The third quarter of 2025 has wrapped up, and Stellantis has just dropped its latest sales report, painting a detailed picture of the automotive world. While the overall figures show a healthy six percent year-over-year increase, the real excitement lies in the hidden details and unexpected trends within the report. This quarter is particularly compelling, showcasing surprising comebacks, standout successes, and segments still navigating the competitive landscape.
Automotive enthusiasts and industry watchers alike will find plenty to discuss, from the almost unbelievable sale of ‘new’ Dodge Darts, a compact sedan long out of production, to the emphatic surge of the Jeep Wagoneer. This report isn’t just about units moved; it’s a testament to the dynamic nature of consumer demand, the lasting appeal of certain models, and the ongoing strategic shifts within one of the world’s largest automotive conglomerates. It highlights how a portfolio can be a blend of relics, experimental ventures, and undeniable runaway hits.
As we dive into the data, we’ll uncover the vehicles that defied expectations, the brands that cemented their market positions, and the intriguing anomalies that make this quarter’s report particularly memorable. This is a journey through the heart of Stellantis’ recent performance, offering an authoritative and detailed look at the vehicles shaping its present and hinting at its future.
1. **The ‘New’ Dodge Dart: A Ghost in the Machine**Perhaps the most eyebrow-raising detail in Stellantis’ third-quarter 2025 sales report is the seemingly impossible: Dodge sold six brand-new Darts. For context, the compact sedan officially went out of production in 2016. This isn’t a miraculous model comeback, nor does it signal a secret revival project; rather, it speaks to the unique phenomenon of long-forgotten units surfacing from the depths of dealer backrooms, finally finding buyers willing to take a chance on a piece of automotive history.
This isn’t just a fluke; Dodge dealers have surprisingly managed to sell a few ‘new’ Darts annually even after production stopped, and this quarter saw six sales, a massive 500% increase from the single sale in Q3 2024. Imagine the pure joy of a true Dart enthusiast celebrating the acquisition of a nearly decade-old ‘new’ car!
The Dart’s journey has been an interesting one. Introduced in 2012, it was Dodge’s attempt to capture a share of the compact sedan market, built on the FCA Compact US Wide architecture, sharing DNA with the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Despite a solid platform and an attractive starting price of around $18,990 in its final U.S. model year, it struggled in a fiercely competitive segment. The last U.S. model rolled off the line at the Belvidere Assembly Plant in September 2016, with rebadged versions as the Fiat Viaggio and Ottimo continuing briefly in China before their discontinuation in 2017. These lingering sales are a testament to either loyal fans or dealers eager to clear out aged inventory, likely offering significant discounts that made these ‘zombie’ cars an appealing, if unconventional, buy compared to a new Nissan Versa.
2. **Jeep Wagoneer: Stealing the Spotlight with Monumental Growth**While the Dodge Dart offers a quirky footnote, the real headline-grabber for Stellantis in Q3 2025 is undoubtedly the Jeep Wagoneer. This full-size SUV moved an impressive 16,597 units this past quarter, marking a colossal 122 percent leap compared to the same period last year. This surge is particularly notable as it occurs despite an imminent facelift, indicating strong underlying demand and successful market positioning.
The Wagoneer’s performance positions it as one of Stellantis’ hottest commodities right now, clearly outshining its larger and more luxurious sibling, the Grand Wagoneer. The success of the standard Wagoneer demonstrates Jeep’s effective strategy in the premium SUV segment, appealing to a broad range of buyers looking for capability, space, and a refined experience without necessarily opting for the absolute pinnacle of luxury available in the Grand Wagoneer.
This robust showing validates Jeep’s ambition to establish a strong presence in the big-money SUV sandbox. The significant year-over-year growth underscores that the Wagoneer is not just gaining traction; it’s accelerating its market penetration and solidifying its role as a key volume driver for the Jeep brand, signaling that Jeep’s luxury play is mostly hitting its stride.
3. **Jeep Grand Wagoneer: The Luxury Play’s Mixed Fortunes**In stark contrast to the standard Wagoneer’s spectacular growth, the Jeep Grand Wagoneer experienced a significant setback in Q3 2025. Sales for the flagship luxury SUV slid by a substantial 50 percent, tallying just 1,303 units. This performance highlights a dichotomy within Jeep’s premium strategy, where the more accessible Wagoneer is thriving while its ultra-luxury counterpart faces headwinds.
The Grand Wagoneer is positioned at the very top of Jeep’s lineup, offering an opulent experience designed to compete with established luxury giants. Its reduced sales figures could indicate a highly competitive segment, pricing pressures, or perhaps a preference among buyers for the less expensive, yet still highly capable and luxurious, standard Wagoneer. This suggests that while Jeep’s luxury aspirations are clear, executing them successfully across all price points within the premium market remains a complex challenge.
Despite the drop, the Grand Wagoneer still represents Jeep’s commitment to expanding its reach into higher-margin segments. Its sales, though lower than anticipated this quarter, are an important part of the brand’s overall strategy to elevate its image and provide a comprehensive range of premium options. The contrast with the Wagoneer’s success simply underscores the differing market dynamics and consumer preferences at various luxury tiers.
4.Adding a significant boost to Jeep’s premium lineup is the all-electric Wagoneer S, which has officially entered the market, contributing 4,163 units to Jeep’s overall performance. While this marks an incredible 5,378 percent increase, it’s crucial to remember that this massive jump is primarily due to its very small launch base in the preceding year.
The substantial number of deliveries for the all-electric Wagoneer S, even from a small starting point, signals strong initial demand and a promising future for Jeep’s electrification efforts. It demonstrates that there is a receptive market for luxury electric SUVs carrying the Jeep badge, especially as consumers increasingly seek out environmentally conscious yet capable vehicles. This vehicle is a critical component of Stellantis’ move towards a more electrified future.
This success clearly demonstrates that Jeep’s strategic focus on electric vehicles, especially in the luxury segment, is beginning to yield positive results. The Wagoneer S isn’t merely an experiment; it’s a bold declaration that Jeep is serious about competing in the booming electric luxury SUV market, enhancing its traditional offerings and attracting a new wave of environmentally conscious consumers.
5. **Jeep Gladiator: A Pickup Truck Flexing Its Muscles**The Jeep Gladiator, the brand’s distinctive pickup truck offering, also had a particularly strong performance in the third quarter. It experienced a healthy jump of 43 percent, with 13,113 units sold. This robust growth showcases the continued appeal of the Gladiator’s unique blend of open-air freedom, off-road capability, and utility, setting it apart in the highly competitive pickup truck segment.
The Gladiator’s success is a testament to Jeep’s ability to diversify its lineup while staying true to its core adventurous identity. It appeals to a specific niche of buyers who desire the versatility of a truck combined with the iconic styling and go-anywhere spirit of a Jeep. This strong sales period further solidifies the Gladiator’s position as a valuable asset in the Stellantis portfolio, contributing significantly to Jeep’s overall market strength.
Its sustained demand in a market that has seen its share of ups and downs for other truck models suggests that the Gladiator has carved out a loyal following. The 43 percent increase is not merely a bump but rather indicative of a consistent and growing appreciation for what this unique pickup brings to the table, reinforcing its importance to the brand’s bottom line.
6. **Dodge Durango: The Ancient SUV Muscling Ahead**Defying expectations of its age, the Dodge Durango, an SUV often referred to as ‘elderly’ in the rapidly evolving automotive world, impressively muscled ahead with a 44 percent bump in sales during Q3 2025. Dodge moved just over 20,000 units, a significant contribution to the brand’s overall performance. This resurgence is particularly striking given the model’s longevity and the fierce competition in the SUV market.
A key factor likely contributing to the Durango’s continued popularity is the availability of V8 power, a feature that is becoming increasingly rare in modern vehicles. For buyers seeking robust performance, towing capability, and a distinctive American muscle aesthetic in an SUV package, the Durango remains a compelling option. Its strong sales suggest a segment of the market still values traditional powertrain options and a proven, rugged design.
The Durango’s ability to maintain, and even increase, its sales volume in the face of newer, more technologically advanced competitors speaks volumes about its enduring appeal. It’s a testament to the brand loyalty Dodge commands and the specific value proposition the Durango offers, proving that sometimes, even an ‘ancient’ model can still pack a punch and perform exceptionally well in the right market conditions.
7. **Chrysler Pacifica: A Minivan’s Resurgent Journey**Even Chrysler, a brand that has seen its lineup significantly streamlined, managed to stage a notable comeback in Q3 2025, largely thanks to the enduring strength of its Pacifica minivan. Sales for the Pacifica surged by 30 percent, reaching an impressive 28,029 units. This performance underscores the continued relevance and demand for well-executed minivans, a segment often overlooked but highly valued by its dedicated customer base.
The Pacifica has consistently been praised for its family-friendly features, versatile interior, and innovative technologies. This sales increase confirms that it remains a top choice for families seeking practicality, comfort, and safety in a vehicle. The 30 percent jump is a significant achievement, particularly in a market that has increasingly favored SUVs, demonstrating the Pacifica’s ability to stand out and capture market share within its niche.
Its strong showing not only bolstered Chrysler’s overall sales figures but also reaffirms the strategic importance of the minivan segment for Stellantis. The Pacifica’s success illustrates that while trends may shift, a truly well-designed and functional vehicle can maintain strong demand, proving that the minivan is far from obsolete and continues to serve a vital role for many households.
8. **Dodge Electric Charger: A Muted Entrance in the EV Race**While some Stellantis brands celebrated soaring sales, the debut of Dodge’s electric Charger presented a more subdued picture in Q3 2025. This all-electric performance car found 2,776 buyers during the quarter. This figure, while representing a new direction for Dodge, stands in stark contrast to the previous year’s performance of its internal combustion engine predecessors.
To put these numbers into perspective, the data reveals that in Q3 2024, Dodge sold 5,104 examples of the old, now-dead ICE Charger. Additionally, 3,657 combustion Challengers were sold in the same period last year. The significant disparity between the traditional muscle car sales and the new electric offering indicates a challenging road ahead for Dodge’s electrification strategy.
The initial sales figures indicate that the electric Charger hasn’t exactly dominated the sales charts yet, as the report notes, highlighting the challenges of transitioning an iconic V8 brand like Dodge into the electric era. Buyer expectations and acceptance of high-performance EVs are still very much in development.
Bridging this gap will require sustained effort, innovative marketing, and a compelling ownership experience to convince traditional Dodge enthusiasts and new EV adopters alike. The electric Charger’s performance will be a crucial barometer for how successfully Stellantis navigates the shift towards an electrified future within its performance-oriented brands.
9. **Dodge Journey: Another ‘Zombie’ Refuses to Die**Beyond the headline-grabbing sales surges and EV debuts, Stellantis’ Q3 2025 report contained further intriguing anomalies, notably the continued sale of the Dodge Journey. A crossover that officially ceased production in 2020, 13 units of the Journey were sold in the third quarter. This brings the year-to-date total to 17 units.
These sales represent another facet of the ‘zombie car’ phenomenon, where vehicles long out of production continue to surface and find buyers. Unlike the Dart, which ended production earlier, the Journey’s lingering presence underscores how aged inventory can persist on dealer lots, eventually being offered at prices compelling enough to move them.
Production of the original Dodge Journey actually ended at the Toluca plant in Mexico, but surprisingly, the Journey nameplate reappeared a year later as a rebadged Trumpchi GS5 manufactured in China and sold only in Mexico. However, the sales figures reported for Q3 2025 exclusively reflect the remaining original U.S. market inventory.
For anyone buying a ‘new’ Journey today, it essentially means purchasing a vehicle that’s now around five years old, which could point to incredible brand loyalty, a substantial discount, or a very specific unmet need that a newer, similarly priced vehicle couldn’t address.
10. **Dodge Caravan: The Lingering Minivan Legacy**Joining the ranks of its discontinued brethren, the Dodge Caravan also refused to completely vanish from Stellantis’ sales ledger in Q3 2025. Eight units of the venerable minivan were sold during the quarter, contributing to a year-to-date total of nine units. Like the Journey, the last Caravan rolled off the assembly line in 2020.
This continued, albeit minimal, sales activity for the Caravan is a testament to the longevity of certain models and the slow process of clearing out remaining stock. It contrasts sharply with the resurgence of its sibling, the Chrysler Pacifica, which continues to dominate the segment for Stellantis.
Produced at the Windsor plant in Ontario, Canada, the Caravan holds a significant place in automotive history as a pioneer of the minivan segment. Its presence in the 2025 sales report, even in single digits, speaks to the deep roots and widespread familiarity the nameplate still commands.
These ‘new’ Caravan sales are likely driven by deep discounts and the practical utility the vehicle still offers. For specific buyers, the value proposition of a deeply discounted, albeit older, minivan may outweigh the allure of a brand-new model, especially for those prioritizing space and functionality above all else.
11.The trend of ‘zombie cars’ isn’t confined to older Dodge models; it also touches Stellantis’ European brands, with Fiat’s discontinued 500L and 500X managing to register sales in Q3 2025, though in very small numbers: two Fiat 500Ls and 31 Fiat 500Xs found buyers.
The Fiat 500X, in particular, showed a slightly stronger, though still small, presence with 158 units sold year-to-date. These figures underscore the diverse nature of Stellantis’ historical inventory. They also highlight the persistent efforts by dealers to clear out any remaining stock, regardless of how long it has been sitting.
While the Fiat brand maintains a smaller market footprint in the U.S. compared to Jeep or Dodge, these lingering sales are a fascinating footnote. They illustrate the long tail of vehicle production and distribution, where even low-volume, discontinued models can occasionally find a final home.
Buyers of these Fiat models are almost certainly benefiting from substantial incentives designed to move aged inventory. This makes them an unconventional, yet potentially attractive, option for those seeking a unique car at a significantly reduced price point, accepting the trade-off of an older model year.
Collectively, these ‘zombie cars’ – including the Dart, Journey, Caravan, and the Fiat 500L and 500X – made only a “teeny-tiny contribution” to Stellantis’ positive Q3 results. However, their continued presence is a curious testament to the complexities of automotive retail and inventory management.
In summary, Stellantis’ third quarter of 2025 provided a compelling look at market dynamics, showcasing everything from groundbreaking electric launches to the quiet resilience of long-gone vehicles. It powerfully illustrates that the automotive industry isn’t solely defined by the latest models or highest sales, but also by the fascinating narratives found in the overlooked corners, where surprising comebacks and enduring legends continue to shape its captivating landscape.
