Strong sales of Ram trucks, especially the 2026 Ram 1500 HEMI, drove a lot of Stellantis’ North American profits in the first quarter. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, pointed to the Ram division’s strong performance when outlining the company’s financials. Filosa said his plans for turning around the company appear to be working.
"As we initiate quarterly reporting, the first three months of 2026 reflect the early results of our actions to return Stellantis to sustainable, profitable growth. The products we launched in 2025 have been well received and we’re confident that the 10 new vehicles planned for 2026 will build on this momentum. Our priority is clear: to put our customers back at the center of everything we do and we look forward to sharing more on this at our Investor Day on May 21 in Auburn Hills."
Both Ram and Jeep Showed Strong Results
Filosa says that in North America, sales increased 6 percent versus Q1 2025. Overall, sales grew 4 percent in the U.S., sales grew 15 percent in Canada and 19 percent in Mexico.
Filosa gave credit to Ram for helping the company outperform other automakers. Ram introduced the 2026 Ram 1500 HEMI which captured the majority of Ram sales. The Ram 1500 had total sales up 27% year over year, recording its best Q1 since 2023.
Filosa’s statement said, “Stellantis outperformed a declining U.S. industry trend which was down 6% in Q1 2026 and was the fastest-growing automaker in the region. Market share rose to 7.9%, up 80 basis points year-over-year, driven by Ram, whose U.S. sales increased approximately 20% year-over-year, the highest Q1 since 2023 and the fastest growing brand in North America.”
Filosa also pointed to Jeep in helping the company increase sales. “Jeep also drove improvement with the all-new Jeep Cherokee, refreshed Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and new Dodge Charger SIXPACK now available in dealer showrooms across the U.S., offering customers greater freedom of choice in the region’s largest market.”
Stellantis Returns to Profitability Worldwide
Stellantis posted a profitable first quarter of 2026 with total revenue up about six percent. Net profit was about $440 million. Last year, Stellantis forced out former CEO Carlos Tavares after falling sales and profit globally.
Profitability Statement Appears to Reinforce Plans to Focus on Ram and Jeep Going Forward
Earlier this week, I reported that Stellantis plans to focus on the Ram and Jeep brands going forward but will not shut down Dodge and Chrysler. Reuters of Europe was first to break the news. According to the Reuter report “Stellantis will channel the majority of its investment into four brands — Jeep, Ram, Peugeot and Fiat — while relegating the rest of its 14-brand portfolio to regional roles.” Stellantis owns Ram, Jeep, Dodge and Chrysler brands that are well known in North America. The company’s other brands include Peugeot, Fiat, Citroen, Opel, Alfa Romeo, DS, Lancia, Maserati and Vauxhall.
Apparently, the new Stellantis plan is to invest heavily in the four main brands. The other brands will be able to use technology and advancements that were designed for the stronger models. CEO Filosa was pressured by some investors to drop the less profitable names but he has decided to keep the name brands in the markets where they are well known. That is good news for Chrysler and Dodge. Both companies have existed in North America for over a hundred years. Stellantis has tried to sell Fiat and Alfa Romeo vehicles here, but sales have been tepid. Maserati does fairly well in America for an expensive, niche brand.
Sources told Reuters that “The lower volume brands, which have previously received a more even slice of the internal investment, will become regional or national ones in specific markets where they are already strong or have potential.”
CEO Filosa Not Revealing Future Plans, Yet
Filosa’s press release today did not mention the plan to focus on four key brands specifically, it directed people to watch for future developments. “We look forward to sharing more on this at our Investor Day on May 21 in Auburn Hills."
A TorqueNews reader named James commented on my previous report saying, “Dropping the Chrysler and/or Dodge brands would cost their dealers a fortune to change signage. It would be wise to give the Chrysler brand one or two more models by simply introducing Chrysler-badged versions of existing Dodge models. While the Jeep and Ram brands are currently riding the wave of SUV and light truck popularity, it appears that sedans will be making a comeback in the near future.”
It is true that some of the automakers are considering bringing back sedans and Chrysler could certainly use some new products.
We’ll have to see what Filosa has planned at the Investor Meeting on May 21st.
Image by Ram
About the Author
Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.
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