FCA Canada was established in mid-June 1925, with 181 employees. 7,857 vehicles were produced in the first year.
"Plodge" Plodge, a
portmanteau of the names
Plymouth and D
odge, is a name informally used to refer to vehicles Chrysler Canada built with a mix of U.S.
Plymouth and
Dodge parts for the Canadian and
export markets. This practice allowed dealers in Canada to offer a wider array of vehicles at lower development cost in the relatively small Canadian market. For example, a Plymouth with a Dodge grille and taillights became a Dodge without the expense of tooling a vehicle for the market. On the
Dodge Dart introduced in 1960, only the interiors were shared; Canadian-market 1960-61 Darts had Plymouth dashboards. The 1965 to 1966
Dodge Monaco used a Dodge body, with a
Plymouth Fury dashboard and interior trim. Not all Canadian-market Chrysler-built vehicles were
badge engineered in this manner, however; the
DeSoto Diplomat, for example—a rebadged Dodge Dart—was never sold in Canada, where DeSotos were similar to the US models. The Canadian 1960
DeSoto Adventurer looked like the American 1960 DeSoto but used the upholstery and door panels from the 1960
Chrysler Saratoga. The
Valiant was sold by both Dodge and Plymouth dealers as a separate make, as had been the original plan in the United States. 1960 to 1962 Canadian Valiants were substantially the same as American models, with minor trim and mechanical equipment differences. 1963-64 Canadian Valiants had U.S. Valiant front sheetmetal on the U.S. Dart body. 1965 Canadian Valiants were available in the full range of sizes and models offered across the American Valiant and Dart models, but all Canadian-market cars used Dart instrument clusters and were badged "Valiant". For 1966, the
Valiant Barracuda was the only offering in Canada on the U.S. Valiant's wheelbase, with no Valiant station wagons in Canada for 1966. "Plodge" vehicles include: •
DeSoto Diplomat: Dodge Dart body, DeSoto-like side trim •
Dodge Kingsway: Dodge body, Plymouth fenders and trim •
Dodge Mayfair: Dodge front clip, Plymouth body •
Dodge Regent: Dodge front clip, Plymouth body •
Dodge Crusader: Dodge Front Clip (grille minus six "teeth") Plymouth body •
Dodge Viscount: Dodge front clip, Plymouth body •
Dodge Monaco 1965-1966: Used 1965-1966
Plymouth Fury dashboard •
Valiant 1960-1966: parts mix varied by model year •
Dodge Dart 1960-1961: Plymouth instrument panel Once the
Canada–United States Automotive Products Agreement (the "Auto Pact") took practical effect in 1967, virtually all differences ceased to exist between U.S. and Canadian Chrysler products. However, until the early 2000s the model distribution within and among marques was sometimes different in Canada than in the U.S. The Dodge and Plymouth
Neon was sold in Canada as the Chrysler Neon; the Dodge
Dynasty and
Intrepid were likewise both badged and sold as Chrysler models in Canada. In 2003 this practice was stopped and the U.S. and Canadian marque and model ranges are fully aligned. Historically, Stellantis Canada sold vehicles under the Dodge, Plymouth, Chrysler, DeSoto, Valiant, and Imperial
marques. Presently there are four marques: Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Chrysler. Dodge is the mainstream car and van line, Jeep is the main SUV range, Chrysler is the premium line, and Ram is the range of trucks and truck-based SUVs. ==Operations==