| In 1901, John Francis Dodge and Horace Elgin | | | | as 4x2, 6x4, 8x2 and 8x4 rigids and 4x2 |
| Dodge moved their Dodge Brothers Bicycle & | | | | semi-trailer tractors. All of them were also |
| Machine Factory to Detroit, Michigan. Their | | | | sold in some export markets badged either as |
| bearings and other parts were in demand with | | | | Fargo or De Soto |
| the early automobile industry, and they | | | | |
| helped design motor parts for early | | | | Following Chrysler Europe's collapse in 1977, |
| Oldsmobiles. | | | | and the sale of their assets to Peugeot, the |
| | | | Dodge British and Spanish factories were |
| In 1902, the Dodge Brothers were approached | | | | quickly passed on to Renault Véhicules |
| by Henry Ford, who was looking for help in | | | | Industriels, who gradually re-branded to |
| financing his own automobile company. Dodge | | | | Renault the range of vans and trucks through |
| Brothers helped finance the start of the Ford | | | | the 1980s, eventually dropping the products |
| Motor Company as well as manufacturing parts | | | | altogether and using the plants to produce |
| for early Fords, to Ford's and the Dodge | | | | engines in the UK and some real Renault truck |
| Brothers' mutual financial benefit. | | | | models in Spain. Dodge would not return to |
| | | | the UK until the introduction of the Dodge |
| In 1914, the Dodge Brothers started their own | | | | Neon SRT-4, branded as a Chrysler Neon, in |
| auto company, which they named the Dodge | | | | the mid 2000s. |
| Brothers Motor Vehicle Company, choosing 50 | | | | |
| dealers initially from hundreds of | | | | Dodge is now part of DaimlerChrysler AG, |
| applications, some of which remain successful | | | | based in Stuttgart. As of 2005, the Dodge |
| today. In a boost to their fortunes, the | | | | brand has become known primarily for its |
| Dodge brothers brought a successful lawsuit | | | | trucks, which account for 78% of the |
| against Ford in 1917. In the same year, Dodge | | | | division's sales. Dodge is attempting to |
| Brothers began building motor trucks as well, | | | | change this with the introduction of the new |
| at first for use by the United States Army | | | | Dodge Charger and the forthcoming Dodge |
| during World War I, then commercially after | | | | Challenger. |
| the war's end. | | | | |
| | | | The Dodge marque was reintroduced to Europe |
| In 1925, the Dodge Brothers Company was | | | | in 2006. Currently, the Dodge Viper SRT-10 |
| purchased by Dillon, Read & Company for | | | | (sold as the Dodge SRT-10 in the UK), Dodge |
| US$148 million, said to be the largest cash | | | | Ram, and the Dodge Caliber are the only |
| transaction in history up to that time. | | | | Dodge-branded vehicles in that market. The |
| Dillon Read in turn sold Dodge to the | | | | Dodge Nitro and the Dodge Avenger will be |
| Chrysler Corporation on July 31, 1928. | | | | released in mid-2007. |
| | | | |
| Following Chrysler's takeover of the British | | | | Dodge recently re-entered the Australian |
| Rootes Group, Simca of France and Barreiros | | | | market in 2006 after a 30 year absence. Dodge |
| of Spain, and the resultant establishment of | | | | Australia plans to release a new model every |
| Chrysler Europe in the late 1960s, the Dodge | | | | six months for the next three years, amid |
| brand was used on light commercial vehicles, | | | | plans to re-ignite the brand's interest down |
| most of which were previously branded Commer | | | | under. The first of such models is the Dodge |
| or Karrier (Rootes subsidiaries), on pick-up | | | | Caliber, which was well received at the |
| and van versions of the Simca 1100, and on | | | | recent 2006 Melbourne Motor Show. |
| heavy trucks built in Spain. The most common | | | | |
| of these was the Dodge 50 series, widely used | | | | Dodge vehicles are now available in many |
| by utility companies and the military, but | | | | countries throughout the world. In 2006, |
| rarely seen outside the UK. and the | | | | Dodge sold more than 1.3 million vehicles in |
| Spanish-built top-weight 300 series available | | | | the global market. |