Dodge is Set to Roll Out the New Hornet in August
» Posted June 15, 2022 • Resources | Share This Post
Compact car shoppers will soon have another new option from Dodge.
The Stellantis-owned brand is rolling out the Hornet, its first compact car since the Dart this summer, the Detroit Free Press reports. The vehicle is reportedly based on the same architecture as the new Alfa-Romeo sport utility vehicle crossover, the Tonale.
“I think we’ve actually even said when we get back into the small compact space this summer when we launch the Hornet, Dodge brand Chief Executive Office Tim Kuniskis said in a call with reporters, according to the Free Press. “We will have a PHEV or variant of that," Kuniskis said, referencing the abbreviation for the plug-in hybrid.”
The company is aiming for an August launch, but Kuniskis warned that ongoing supply chain issues crippling the auto industry could push the date back. A semiconductor chip shortage has slowed production at Stellantis, GM, Ford and other major auto manufacturers.
“This gray hair that I'm getting? It's not COVID, it's not lockdowns, it's supply chain,” Kuniskis told reporters. “Every single thing we’re doing is like in Jell-O right now because it’s so hard to plan anything.”
Stellantis said it saw a 12% jump in revenue over the first quarter, despite the supply chain situation. The company also owns Chrysler, Jeep, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
The Alfa-Romeo Tonale, which will be built in Italy, is expected to launch in the U.S. next year.
Defects Put Dodge Drivers at Risk
As Dodge looks to unveil another new model, the company continues to struggle to ensure that the cars it is making today are actually safe to drive.
For example, Dodge recently announced that it is recalling more than 370,000 Durango sport utility vehicles and Ram pickup trucks that the company says have faulty warning lights.
Last year, Dodge recalled 500,000 Ram pickup trucks because of a wheel defect that Stellantis told federal regulators increased the risk of an accident. That announcement came just months after Dodge separately recalled 20,000 Ram trucks that it said were at risk of engine fires.
Legal Rights for California Car Owners
Dodge is not alone. Major vehicle manufacturers call back millions of vehicles every year, citing a wide range of defects and malfunctions that increase the risk of crashes.
That is where the California lemon law comes in. The law gives car owners and lessors in the Golden State the power to take action to get defective cars fixed, instead of having to simply wait for a recall.
The lemon law forces carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also requires the companies to buy back (or replace, in some situations) vehicles that they are not able or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, along with other related fees and costs.
Talk with an Orange County Lemon Law Attorney
If you are a Dodge or other car owner or lessor stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the Orange County lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help.
Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an Orange County lemon law attorney.
