This Car Company Is Back From The (Almost) Dead

Issue #199

We hope you’ve had a lovely and meaningful Memorial Day. 

Today, we discuss how one American brand is planning its revival and why it could work.

Or, you can continue to read by scrolling down.

Market News

• North Carolina is suing VinFast because the company hasn’t even started on its new project. Here’s more. 

• Is the Volkswagen Golf GTI still the best hot hatch? It is if you have money, as explained here. 

• American teen drivers want sedans. Here’s how automakers are responding. 

• Here’s how Ford paused production of its most popular vehicle because of one part. 

• EVs could have a $130 registration tax, and people aren’t happy. Here’s more.

Safety and Recalls

• Hyundai recalls 421,000 cars because the collision software doesn’t work properly. 

• Honda recalls 60,000 vehicles over a camera issue. Here’s more.

Car Culture

• Ferrari finally releases images of its new EV. Here they are, what do you think? 

• Toyota is killing off one of its most legendary engines. Read here to learn more about its demise. 

• These 10 sports cars will age like classics. Do you agree?

• Few could have envisioned how China is getting into the classic car restoration scene, as you can see here. 

• 12 years later, this Kia lawsuit is dismissed.

Video Of The Week

Here’s how one dad blew the rear end in a 1970 Charger: twice. 

In The Know

This Car Company Is Back From The (Almost) Dead

If you were to ask any automotive enthusiast to predict the survival rate of a company selling only one vehicle, and that vehicle is a minivan, they’d say it’s pretty low. However, somehow, that lonely brand, with that lonely model, continues to survive. 

In 2025, it sold 126,381 vehicles, 6,000 units more than Volvo.

We’re talking about Chrysler, and you can learn more about its sales figures here.

Now, it’s going to get a breath of fresh air, a lifeline if you will, and the idea isn’t half bad.

As this article explained, Chrysler will introduce three new models to join the Pacifica.

Two of the new models will be called the Arrow and Arrow Cross. Stellantis, which owns Chrysler, promises that these SUVs will cost under $30,000. There’s a lot of speculation when it comes to the powertrains, but this article believes there will be some form of electrification, and that’s perfectly fine.

What’s important to note is that these models won’t be new from scratch. Instead, CEO Antonio Filosa is using the company’s FastLane 2030 plan to bring Stellantis back on track after some tough years. MotorTrend explains that Stellantis hopes to invest nearly $70 billion in new models, platforms, and powertrains.

That’s why the Arrow and Arrow Cross will use Fiat’s Grizzly program as a basis. One vehicle will be more in line with traditional SUV design, and the other will be curvy and edgy, as explained here.

As a side note, the name isn’t new. Chrysler sold the Arrow under the Plymouth marque on two distinct occasions and drastically opposite cars, as you can see here.

So, the name is nothing new, as it’s the case with the third model: the Chrysler Airflow. Avid car historians will recognize the name immediately as one of the more iconic commercial failures in automotive history. The original Airflow, launched in 1934, was the first car to use streamlining as a concept for its design. 

This is something all automakers do now, but back then it was revolutionary. In fact, it was almost too revolutionary, as Hagerty explains.

Chrysler aims to maintain this identity with the new Airflow, and this has automotive media quite excited. With due reason, because the equation that Chrysler is using actually makes a lot of sense.

Their European counterparts, such as Peugeot and Fiat, are consolidated in other markets. They understand what can work, and Stellantis doesn’t have to spend much on bringing cheap, fun cars to the US. With new cars being so expensive, these are excellent proposals that will garner new fans.

That’s not the only massive effort Stellantis is making. If you want to learn more about the other brands coming along, you can read this article. (The Scrambler sounds interesting!)