Who made the Dodge Raider?
The Dodge Raider does not exist as a production vehicle. There is no official Dodge model by that name in Chrysler’s historical lineup, and credible records show it as either a non-production concept, a misattribution, or a rumor.
What the name refers to
There are several ways people encounter the term, most of them pointing to non-production concepts or naming mix-ups. The items below cover the main explanations commonly discussed by historians and enthusiasts.
- Concept vehicle: Dodge reportedly explored rugged SUV concepts in the late 1980s and early 1990s; some lists or fan resources refer to one as the "Raider," but it never reached production.
- Marketing or regional name confusion: In some markets or press materials, a project prototype may have carried a working or internal name similar to "Raider," leading to misattribution.
- Rumors and fan-created content: Online forums and renderings sometimes reuse the name without official Chrysler documentation.
Taken together, these points suggest that the Dodge Raider was more likely a non-production concept or a misnomin, rather than a released Dodge model.
Who would have made a Dodge Raider?
If a concept existed, it would have been crafted by Dodge's own design and engineering teams under Chrysler's corporate umbrella. In some discussions, there are mentions of possible collaboration with Mitsubishi for a shared platform or drivetrain, but no official record confirms any such partnership tied to a production vehicle by that name.
- In-house development: Any non-production "Raider" would have originated from Dodge's or Chrysler's design studios, such as the company's Advanced Design Center in the era.
- Possible partner involvement: Rumors of collaborations with Mitsubishi or other suppliers crop up in speculative sources, but they are not substantiated in credible archives.
Because there is no official Dodge Raider project in production histories, the exact maker, whether in-house or with a partner, remains unverified.
Why the term persists in automotive lore
The name endures because concept studies, marketing experiments, and misattributions often surface long after their shelf life, and enthusiasts tend to reuse rare names for illustrative purposes. Without official documentation, the Dodge Raider remains a topic of speculation rather than fact.
Summary
In short: there is no evidence of a produced Dodge Raider. If you encounter the term, it most often refers to a non-production concept, a regional/working name, or online rumor. Dodge’s official history does not include a production model by that name.
