Dodge Sold a Greater Number of Older Challengers and Chargers Compared to New Daytona EVs in Q1 | Carscoops

      Despite the old Charger and Challenger being out of production since late 2023, these models still managed to sell more than the new Charger EV in the first quarter.

      The Charger Daytona EV recorded an average of just 22 sales per day across the entire United States.

      Dodge's overall sales plummeted by 49% in Q1, with significant declines noted across all models.

      It appears that Americans still favor their muscle cars to be loud, aggressive, and somewhat outdated. While Dodge attempts to transition its performance lineup to the electric era, early sales figures indicate that many consumers are in no hurry to abandon their V8s or even their V6s. In Q1, more consumers opted for the long-discontinued Challengers and Chargers over the brand new Daytona EV, reflecting the mindset of Dodge's customer base.

      From January to March, Dodge sold 1,947 units of the Charger Daytona EV. This may seem respectable at first glance, but it's less impressive when you consider that they sold 1,052 of the last-generation ICE Chargers and 922 Challengers during the same time frame. Together, that's 1,974 classic muscle cars—just surpassing the Daytona EV.

      To be fair, this is a comparison of two body styles against one, yet it still stings, especially since these vehicles are now considered relics. The Charger has been around since 2005 and the Challenger since 2008, and both models were officially discontinued at the end of 2023.

      Not only did the Charger Daytona EV sell fewer units than the old models, but the 1,947 units sold nationwide in three months breaks down to a mere 22 cars per day. In contrast, Ford managed to sell 9,377 Mustangs during the same timeframe, despite experiencing a 32% decline in year-over-year sales. To add to Dodge's woes, they sold 9,737 Challengers in Q1 2024, which is over five times the sales of the new EV this year.

      Speaking of discontinued models, Dodge still has a surprising surplus of 2023 Chargers and Challengers. An inventory review shows there are 657 Chargers and 691 Challengers still available for sale nationwide. The fact that these cars remain unsold 15 months after production ended indicates that while nostalgia may attract interest, it isn't necessarily translating to quick sales.

      Dodge is hoping that new additions to the Charger Daytona lineup will help reverse the current trend. The anticipated four-door version, in addition to new internal combustion models powered by an inline-six engine, could potentially appeal more to traditional muscle car enthusiasts. However, for the moment, the sales figures are not favorable.

      Overall, it was a challenging quarter for Dodge. The brand's total sales fell from 42,948 units in Q1 2024 to only 21,731 this quarter, reflecting a 49% decrease. Every model in the lineup faced a downturn. The Hornet's sales dropped by 45%, totaling 4,108 units, while the aging Durango experienced a 9% decline, finishing at 13,701 units.