Dodge Encyclopedia
Dodge History
Dodge is an American automotive brand whose story begins with two brothers from Michigan. This section follows its development chapter by chapter, from its origins to the present day.
Every chapter lists the sources behind it. Chapters are added only once they can be verified.
Historical chapters
1896–1914
The Dodge Brothers before the automobile
John and Horace Dodge moved from bicycle parts to supplying engines, transmissions and axles to early carmakers, including Ford, before building a car under their own name.
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1914–1928
Dodge Brothers motor cars
The brothers introduced their own car in 1914. After both founders died in 1920, the company was sold to bankers in 1925 and purchased by Walter Chrysler in 1928.
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1928–1959
Dodge within Chrysler: industry and engineering
After Chrysler acquired Dodge Brothers in 1928, Dodge grew within a larger automotive group — through the Depression, wartime production and the postwar arrival of new models and the first Dodge V8.
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1960–1979
From new structures to the muscle-car era
The 1960s and 1970s took Dodge from unibody full-size cars and the first Dart to the Charger and Challenger — and then into a decade of economic pressure on its parent company.
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1980–1999
New formats, minivans and the Viper idea
From the Aries K-car and the first Caravan minivan to the 1989 Viper concept, Dodge broadened its lineup during the 1980s and 1990s.
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2000–2013
A new century: revived names and corporate change
The 2000s brought new Dodge models and concepts, the return of the Charger name, the separation of Dodge and Ram, and Chrysler's 2009 reorganization.
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2014–2020
Performance identity and the end of an era
From its 2014 centennial and the formation of FCA to the expansion of Hellcat and Widebody performance models, Dodge emphasized high-output driving experiences while maintaining a wider vehicle lineup. The 2014–2020 period established a distinct performance-led brand identity before the 2021 creation of Stellantis.
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2021–present
The Stellantis era
Since January 2021 Dodge has been a brand of Stellantis N.V., formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA.
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