It’s been almost two months since Stellantis executives charted the path ahead, not only for the four North American brands but also for every major automotive market served by a total of 14 brands, focused heavily on Europe and with multiple powertrain offerings. Now, there’s some major news in North America, where two new team members will help execute the wide-reaching product offensive known as FaSTLAne 2030. And they’re stepping in at the highest possible levels.
2027 Jeep Wrangler Laredo from the rear three-quarter angleStellantis
Say hello to the new brand CEOs for Ram and Jeep. Matt VanDyke (below, left) takes over the Ram brand effective today, while Branden Coté will lead Jeep starting on August 3. Both executives will report directly to Tim Kuniskis, who came out of retirement to lead the Ram brand in December 2024 after the departure of CEO Carlos Tavares. Handing over the Ram duties to VanDyke, Kuniskis can now focus on his broader job as head of American brands, North America marketing and retail strategy for Stellantis North America.
At Jeep, Coté succeeds Bob Broderdorf, who will be taking medical leave after leading the Jeep brand since February 2025. When Broderdorf returns after leave, Stellantis says he will assume a new leadership role within the company. In a statement this morning, Kuniskis thanked Broderdorf for his “exceptional leadership” at Jeep. “Bob is a dedicated and valued colleague, and a friend to many across the company. I look forward to continuing our work together when he takes on his new role.”
Ram CEO Matt VanDyke and Jeep CEO Branden Cote StellantisStellantis
New Leadership Facing Big Challenges
As the Stellantis brands with the highest vehicle sales volumes in the SUV and pickup truck segments, Jeep and Ram factor prominently in FaSTLAne 2030. At Stellantis’ recent Investor Day at the North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, we learned that Jeep will be getting a new Compass compact crossover, incorporating the automaker’s global design, with more ruggedness, and production is slated to begin next year in Belvidere, Illinois.
Coté (above, right) will also have his hands full as Jeep continues revealing new Wrangler variants, while the Gladiator will get the 6.4-liter Hemi for the first time, and a Trailhawk Jeep Grand Cherokee is on the way back. The Grand Wagoneer has been updated to be more premium, a Grand Wagoneer Summit extended-range EV with a combined 650 horsepower is on the way, and the all-electric Jeep Recon will also offer an internal-combustion engine in the near future.
There are high expectations for the upcoming Wrangler Scrambler SRT pickup, serving as a spiritual successor to the CJ-8 Scrambler from the 1980s. Design chief Ralph Gilles called it the “ultimate off-road machine.” In addition to the Scrambler, Jeep will have SRT versions of the Grand Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee / L.
Across the aisle at Ram, VanDyke will lead the launch of the new Ramcharger, a full-size SUV with chiseled features and an aggressive look, competing against Chevy Yukon and Ford Expedition. Even though Ram axed its all-electric pickup, what will replace it is the Ram 1500 REV, an extended-range full-size pickup.
Dakota And Rampage Fill Out The Lineup
Ram is also finally filling two major gaps in the lineup with the midsize Dakota and compact Rampage pickups. The new Dakota will come from the Wrangler Gladiator platform, but with a wider cab. Stellantis first introduced the Rampage in South America, where it’s selling well.
VanDyke comes to Stellantis from Shift Digital, where he was president of the marketing firm, and he served as CEO of FordDirect and held several roles at Ford, including head of US marketing. Coté brings experience from OEM and dealer retail operations, most recently with AutoNation, where he served as brand president. He’s held leadership roles previously at Aston Martin Lagonda, Canoo, and Mercedes-AMG/Mercedes-Benz USA.
2026 Ram Rampage R/T NFL EditionRam do Brasil
“Their skills and deep industry experience align with our simple – but very important – customer-centric objective: to provide people with the brands and products they love and trust,” Kuniskis says.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Stellantis has been leaning heavily on Ram and Jeep for revenue, and the product plan going forward shows they will continue to pull heavy duty. The Chrysler and Dodge brands will also get several new products as part of FaSTLAne 2030, and all four North American brands need to contribute to Stellantis’ bottom line globally. While Kuniskis, Coté, and VanDyke will be feeling the stress of so many crucial product launches, CEO Antonio Filosa will be feeling it from the investment community.
