Stellantis: Trump's taxes will kill a car produced in Italy "there won't be a model in 2026"

A car produced in Italy by Stellantis may have no commercial future in 2026. While Dodge had high hopes for the Hornet, its compact SUV produced in Naples, Italy, the model's future has just been compromised. This is due to Donald Trump's tariffs, which threaten to remove the model from the catalog as early as 2026.

The Hornet, an Italian bet for the American market

When it was launched in 2023, the Dodge Hornet had a clear mission: to give Dodge a credible presence in the highly competitive compact SUV segment. A technical cousin of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, it rolled off the production lines at the Naples plant. Despite a promising start (over 20,500 sales by 2024), the model was never totally convincing: recall campaigns, a price deemed too high and dealerships sometimes forced to sell at a loss.

For 2025, Dodge had tried to revive interest by lowering the entry price to around $30,000. But this strategy did not have time to bear fruit.

Trump imposes his taxes, Dodge suspends production in Italy

All hell broke loose when Donald Trump decided to impose a 27.5 % tax on European automotive imports (which would eventually rise to 15 %). As a result, Stellantis was forced to halt production of the Hornet, rushing the last 2025 examples to the U.S. before the tax took effect. According to Dodge boss Matt McAlear, speaking to Detroit News, "if there's no change in taxes, there won't be a 2026 model".

Today, fewer than 3,000 Dodge Hornets remain in stock at American dealerships. They should all be sold out before the end of the year. Then... curtains.

American dealers unmoved

As far as Dodge distributors are concerned, the Hornet's demise is no cause for tears. One of them, interviewed by Detroit News, didn't mince his words: "Italians trying to sell Italian vehicles in the United States, it's been a big failure." A statement that illustrates the cultural and commercial gap between this model from Italy and the expectations of American customers, attached to Dodge's "muscle car" image.

For while the Hornet may be paying a heavy price for Trump's taxes, other models are coming out stronger. The Dodge Durango SUV will now switch entirely to V8 power for 2026, taking advantage of the easing of rules on pollutant emissions. The legendary Hemi 5.7-litre V8 to make a comeback from the entry-level, and the R/T will inherit the 475-hp 6.4-liter. As for the Hellcat version, it will continue its career with 710 hp.

And that's not all: the rumors are intensifying about a possible return of the V8 on the new Dodge Chargercurrently available in electric version and with a six-cylinder engine.

This shift is a perfect illustration of the Trump administration's automotive policy. On the one hand, the elimination of environmental constraints allows Dodge to return to its roots with naturally-aspirated, supercharged V8s. On the other, higher tariffs put an end to the Hornet adventure, a model designed to broaden the customer base and diversify the range.