Dodge Begins 2025 Charger Daytona Production in Windsor
It's hard to believe that over two years have passed since Dodge unveiled the highly anticipated Dodge Charger Daytona in August of 2022. The wait has been long, but progress is finally visible as Dodge begins cautious production of the 2025 Charger Daytona at their Windsor, Ontario plant. The announcement comes after delays caused by various production setbacks, including supply chain issues, a significant union strike, and subsequent negotiations that stalled Stellantis’ broader manufacturing efforts. However, with the recent release of a short official public relations video, Dodge has confirmed that the production of their revolutionary Charger Daytona EV is underway, offering a glimpse of the assembly process for what could be one of the brand's most important vehicles to date.
A New Era of Performance: The 2025 Charger Daytona
The Dodge Charger Daytona EV represents a dramatic shift for Dodge, a brand traditionally known for its V8-powered muscle cars. With its move to electric powertrains, Dodge seeks to maintain its reputation for high-performance vehicles while embracing the future of electrification. The Charger Daytona is expected to deliver the same high-performance thrills Dodge is famous for, only this time with electric motors driving the wheels instead of internal combustion engines.
Originally slated for a summer 2024 release, the Dodge Charger Daytona EV has been delayed, with production now beginning cautiously at the Windsor plant in the fall of 2024. While this delay pushes the car's official debut further into the future, the release of the recent PR video offers an exciting update for fans eagerly awaiting the Charger Daytona.
Inside the Windsor Plant: A Glimpse of Production
The video, which runs just over a minute, features David Bellaire, the Windsor plant manager, overseeing the production process. Though the video mainly highlights the importance of the plant to the town of Windsor and the skill of its workforce, the real takeaway is the visible production of Charger Daytona models moving through the assembly line. It’s a sign that production, though still at an early stage, is finally happening.
The video shows robotic arms swarming over a Charger body in bare metal, meticulously assembling various components. Welds are laid down, bumpers installed, wiring harnesses fastened, and even the front trunk, or “frunk,” latches are bolted on. As the assembly line progresses, more of the car comes together—seam sealant is applied, dashboards are installed, and doors are carefully aligned. The footage highlights the focus on two-door Scat Pack EV coupes, which seem to be the priority for now.
Notably, the assembly line that produces the Dodge Charger EVs is predominantly tasked with building minivans, meaning that the Charger production is integrated into an existing line. However, it’s clear that Dodge has honed its process for producing electric vehicles, with workers performing newly honed tasks at a quick pace. The sporadic spacing of Charger Daytona EVs on the line suggests that production is still ramping up, but the video offers hope that the long-awaited Charger Daytona will soon be a reality.
Delays and Teasers: A Look at What’s to Come
The road to production for the Dodge Charger Daytona has been long and filled with teases. Dodge initially announced the Charger Daytona Banshee in August of 2022 as the first glimpse of its electric future. Since then, the automaker has rolled out additional information in small batches, including details about the Charger EV lineup and the ICE-powered Charger SIXPACK models, featuring the new Hurricane twin-turbo inline-six engines.
In March of 2024, Dodge showcased both the electric and internal combustion versions of the Charger Daytona, but production delays have pushed back their official release. Recently, Dodge allowed select customers to begin customizing and pre-ordering "First Call Edition" Charger Daytona EVs through a special concierge service, but these orders needed to be submitted before the October 31 deadline. Despite this limited pre-order window, there’s still no word on when these pre-ordered models will arrive at dealerships.
What’s Next?
While the video reveals that production of the two-door Scat Pack EV coupes has started, many questions remain. When will the four-door Charger R/T EV sedans begin production? And when will we see the gas-powered Charger 340 and 440 models, which will feature the Hurricane inline-six engines? Dodge has remained tight-lipped about these details, but fans can expect more information as production ramps up and the debut of the 2025 Charger Daytona draws closer.
Windsor’s Role in the Charger Daytona’s Future
The Windsor plant is playing a critical role in Dodge’s future, producing not only minivans but now the cutting-edge Charger Daytona EV. This facility, long associated with building family-friendly vehicles, is being transformed into the birthplace of Dodge’s electric muscle car lineup. The town of Windsor and its workforce have been integral to the company’s success, and the recent video showcases the pride and skill of the workers bringing the Charger Daytona to life.
As production of the Charger Daytona continues, Windsor will remain at the forefront of Dodge’s transition to electrification. The blend of traditional muscle car heritage with modern electric technology is a bold move for Dodge, and Windsor will play a pivotal role in bringing this new generation of vehicles to market.
The Dodge Charger Daytona is finally in production, signaling an exciting new chapter for Dodge and its move into the electric vehicle market. While delays have pushed back the release of the highly anticipated model, production is now underway, with the Windsor plant laying the foundation for this groundbreaking vehicle. Though the debut of the Charger Daytona EV has been pushed to 2025, the recent public relations video offers a tantalizing look at the future of Dodge, where high-performance muscle cars meet cutting-edge electric technology. Stay tuned for more updates as the Charger Daytona makes its long-awaited journey to dealerships.
