Electric Cars

Navigating a Shifting Market: Stellantis's U.S. Sales Performance in 2025

Stellantis's Overall Performance in the U.S. Market

Despite a year marked by various market pressures, Stellantis's total sales in the United States concluded with a three percent reduction. This dip resulted in 1,260,344 vehicle deliveries across all its brands, reflecting a mixed bag of performances, with certain segments experiencing more significant contractions than others.

Alfa Romeo's Steep Decline and Future Uncertainties

Alfa Romeo emerged as the brand most affected within the Stellantis portfolio in 2025, recording a substantial 36 percent decrease in shipments, totaling merely 5,652 units. The brand's established models, the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV, both witnessed a 41 percent drop, while the more recent Tonale crossover experienced a 29 percent reduction. The future outlook for Alfa Romeo appears dim, given its sparse product development pipeline for the upcoming years.

Dodge Faces Significant Headwinds in Sales

Dodge also encountered a demanding year, with its deliveries shrinking by 28 percent to 101,927 vehicles. The long-standing Durango model served as a crucial pillar, with its sales increasing by 37 percent to 81,168 units, comprising nearly 80 percent of Dodge's total U.S. sales. However, the Hornet, Dodge's counterpart to the Tonale, saw a dramatic 54 percent fall in sales, delivering only 9,365 units. Production delays and tariff issues for the 2026 Hornet contributed to this poor performance, casting doubt on the effectiveness of any potential future updates.

Fiat's Diminishing Presence in the American Market

Fiat continued its struggles in the U.S., occupying the lowest position in Stellantis's sales charts with only 1,321 vehicles sold, a 14 percent decrease from the previous year. The brand's sole offering, the electric 500e city car, failed to generate significant demand, and the impending introduction of the even smaller Topolino is not expected to substantially alter Fiat's fortunes in North America.

Mixed Results for Other Stellantis Brands: Ram, Chrysler, and Jeep

Among other Stellantis brands, Ram experienced a minor two percent sales reduction, reaching 431,670 units. In contrast, both Chrysler and Jeep showed signs of resilience, each achieving a one percent increase in sales. Chrysler sold 126,373 units, while Jeep's sales climbed to 593,401 vehicles, demonstrating pockets of growth within the broader decline.

Detailed Sales Overview for Stellantis Brands in 2025

A comprehensive breakdown of Stellantis's 2025 sales in the U.S. reveals Alfa Romeo with 5,652 units (-36%), Dodge with 101,927 units (-28%), and Fiat with 1,321 units (-14%). On the positive side, Chrysler reported 126,373 units (+1%), and Jeep achieved 593,401 units (+1%), while Ram sold 431,670 units (-2%).

Industry Insights on Alfa Romeo's Strategic Re-evaluation

From an industry perspective, Alfa Romeo's U.S. sales performance raises concerns, especially with the extended timeline for future product launches. The decision to prolong the production of current Giulia and Stelvio models due to development delays for their successors underscores a strategic shift. Alfa Romeo has abandoned its initial ambition to become an exclusively electric brand, opting instead to continue offering internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains, a move influenced by engineering challenges related to integrating ICE options into designs originally conceived as electric-only.

Outlook for Dodge's Future Models

Dodge anticipates a potentially improved 2026, spurred by the recent commencement of production for the Charger Sixpack. However, enthusiasts awaiting a new Durango will need to be patient, as the next-generation SUV is not slated for release until 2029.

The Continuing Challenges for Fiat in the U.S. Market

Fiat's market presence in the U.S. continues to diminish, with little indication of a significant turnaround in the near future. The forthcoming arrival of the Topolino model is unlikely to reverse the brand's declining trajectory in North America.

Chrysler's Path to Revitalization with New Product Development

Chrysler is in urgent need of fresh vehicle offerings, but the stability provided by its Pacifica and Voyager minivans offers a glimmer of hope. The establishment of its dedicated design studio signals a commitment to developing new models, potentially leading to the introduction of new products before the end of the decade and a revitalization of the brand.

A recent analysis has brought to light the escalating financial burden faced by consumers purchasing new automobiles. This comprehensive review indicates that vehicle financing metrics, including average monthly payments, the total sum financed, and the duration of loan agreements, have reached unprecedented levels. This situation underscores a pervasive affordability crisis within the automotive market, forcing a substantial portion of buyers into long-term financial commitments.

The detailed findings reveal that a considerable segment of new car purchasers are now obligating themselves to monthly installments exceeding $1,000. Specifically, in the fourth quarter of 2025, over 20% of all new vehicle financing agreements fell into this high-payment category. This represents a marked increase from previous quarters, signaling a tightening squeeze on household budgets. The overall average monthly payment also saw an uptick, settling at $772 during the same period, the highest figure ever recorded, reflecting the persistent upward trend in vehicle ownership costs.

Driving these challenging conditions are several key factors, most notably the elevated manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs) of new cars and the prevailing high interest rates. The average transaction price for a new vehicle in the U.S. approached $50,000, influenced significantly by purchasing patterns among more affluent demographics. Concurrently, the average financed amount for new vehicles surged to a record $43,759 in Q4 2025. Although the average annual percentage rate (APR) saw a slight dip to 6.7%, it remains near historical highs, exacerbating the cost of borrowing.

Furthermore, the availability of attractive financing incentives from automakers has been limited. Promotional interest rates, particularly the coveted 0% APR, were scarce, with only a small fraction of loans qualifying. This scarcity, combined with the increasing reliance on extended loan terms—such as those stretching 84 months or longer, which constituted over 20% of financed purchases—illustrates consumers' strategies to manage the elevated costs. These long-term loans, while reducing immediate monthly outlays, ultimately increase the total interest paid over the life of the loan.

The financial strain extends beyond the new car market, impacting used car buyers as well. Data indicates that a growing percentage of used car purchasers are also facing monthly payments of $1,000 or more, highlighting the widespread nature of the affordability challenge. Despite these difficulties, there is a cautious optimism for future market adjustments. Industry experts anticipate a potential rebalancing, with new vehicle prices stabilizing and a possibility of lower interest rates. Additionally, an expected increase in off-lease vehicle returns could introduce more affordable alternatives into the used car market, offering some relief to consumers.