The first Chrysler-branded car, the Chrysler Six, debuted in 1924. Chrysler Corporation itself was formed on June 6, 1925, when Walter P. Chrysler reorganized the Maxwell Motor Company. Today, Chrysler is an active Stellantis brand, not a standalone automaker.
Before the corporation: Maxwell and the Chrysler Six
Walter P. Chrysler built his career in the railroad industry before becoming a senior executive at Buick and General Motors. He later took on troubled automakers, including Maxwell Motor Company. The first Chrysler-branded car appeared at the 1924 New York Auto Show: the Chrysler Six.
Chrysler’s history credits the Six with a high-compression six-cylinder engine, aluminum pistons, full-pressure lubrication, and standard four-wheel hydraulic brakes, among other features. These details helped establish the company’s engineering reputation. Chrysler Corporation followed on June 6, 1925, when Maxwell was reorganized under Chrysler’s leadership.
Building a multi-brand automaker
In 1928, Chrysler added brands and industrial capacity. It formed Plymouth to compete in the lower-price market and DeSoto for the middle-price market, and acquired Dodge Brothers, bringing a larger manufacturing and dealer network into the company. These were historical parts of Chrysler’s portfolio; they are not all active brands today.
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The 1934 Chrysler Airflow showed the company’s appetite for experimentation. Its streamlined body drew on aerodynamic research and wind-tunnel testing. The design was ambitious, but production delays, mechanical problems, and styling that many buyers did not favor limited its commercial success. The Airflow illustrates both Chrysler’s engineering ambition and the risks of moving ahead of customer expectations.
Postwar growth and innovation
Chrysler’s model history includes vehicles such as the 300, Newport, New Yorker, LeBaron, Town & Country, PT Cruiser, and Pacifica. Its official timeline says Chrysler sales had increased 65% by 1965, moving the brand from 11th to 9th in national rankings. That is the manufacturer’s historical claim; the timeline does not provide its methodology.
In 2017, Chrysler introduced the Pacifica Plug-in Hybrid. Chrysler described it at the time as America’s first and only plug-in hybrid minivan. That was a dated manufacturer claim, not a current comparison of the market.
The 1979 crisis and federal loan guarantees
By 1979, Chrysler faced a severe financial crisis. The Detroit Historical Society reports that on September 7 of that year the company sought $1.5 billion in federal loan guarantees to avoid bankruptcy. These were requested guarantees, not a cash grant. The episode became a defining moment in the company’s history and a major test of whether it could remain an independent automaker.
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Daimler-Benz and Chrysler announced their merger in 1998, creating DaimlerChrysler. It was an international combination, but the companies’ relationship changed over time. Mercedes-Benz Group’s corporate history says Daimler sold majority stakes in Chrysler Group in 2007 and relinquished its remaining 19.9% stake in April 2009.
The ownership changes did not mean Chrysler’s operations simply vanished. In 2009, the former Chrysler LLC entered Chapter 11 restructuring. A reorganized Chrysler Group LLC acquired the principal operating assets through a government-sponsored North American restructuring. Fiat joined the new company’s alliance, contributed platforms and technology, and increased its ownership to 100% by 2014.
From Fiat Chrysler to Stellantis
Fiat organized Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) as a global parent company. FCA and Groupe PSA completed their merger on January 16, 2021; the combined company adopted the Stellantis name and governance on January 17. Chrysler became one marque in Stellantis’s portfolio rather than continuing as a standalone public automaker.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Chrysler today
As of October 4, 2026, Stellantis presents Chrysler as an active brand entering its second century after its 2025 centennial. Its current brand page centers on the refreshed 2027 Pacifica and a new logo. Stellantis’s May 2026 strategy identifies Chrysler as a regional brand, focused on core markets while using shared global assets and pursuing greater differentiation.
That current identity is narrower than the broad corporate portfolio of Chrysler’s past. The company’s story runs from the Maxwell reorganization and the Chrysler Six through expansion, financial crisis, changing ownership, and integration into Stellantis. Keeping the brand distinct from its parent company makes the timeline easier to understand: Chrysler remains a marque, while Stellantis is the global automaker that owns it.
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FAQ
When was Chrysler founded?
Chrysler Corporation was formed on June 6, 1925, when Maxwell Motor Company was reorganized under Walter P. Chrysler. The first Chrysler-branded car, the Chrysler Six, debuted in 1924.
What company did Chrysler start as?
Chrysler Corporation was formed from Maxwell Motor Company, an automaker established in 1904.
Who owns Chrysler now?
Chrysler is a brand of Stellantis, the global company created by the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Groupe PSA.
What happened to Chrysler after Daimler?
Daimler sold its majority stake in Chrysler Group in 2007 and its remaining 19.9% stake in April 2009. Later in 2009, Chrysler entered a Fiat-backed restructuring, and Fiat eventually became its sole owner before the company joined Stellantis in 2021.
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