Stellantis, the parent company of Dodge and Ram, was reported to have been fined US$ 190.6 million by the federal government for making 'cool' cars. In fact, the automaker has paid out US$ 773.5 million to the US government since 2018, all just to make its customers satisfied and happy.
The hefty payment was a result of a ruling that found the multinational automaker not meeting fuel economy standards. Result, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just keeps on fining it. All those Hellcats, TRXs, Demons, Redeyes, and Scat Packs came at a steep price.
It’s all because in the past the US government believed issuing fines to automakers would make the polar caps grow and the seas to recede. Because the government has that kind of god-like power, especially when given more money.
However, many are hopeful, thanks to President Donald Trump's directive to NHTSA to eliminate fines for non-compliance with federal fuel economy standards.
You can thank policies like the old one for making it so V8 engines have become scarce, including in full-size trucks and SUVs. Don’t worry, your turbo-four will do just great pulling your camper as well as hauling your family and gear through steep canyon highways.
When Reuters, which broke this story, reached out to Stellantis for comment, the automaker would only confirm the size of the fines paid. It seems after it fell into compliance and canceled the Hemi V8 engine, incurring the wrath of just about everyone as sales plummeted, it’s ready to just forget the whole fiasco and move forward.
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