Stellantis’ Detroit Assembly Complex-Jefferson plant had a dozen vehicles stolen overnight, but the mastermind behind the large-scale vehicle theft was not tempted by the Dodge Daytona.
In the early morning of February 11th, under the 3 AM darkness, a group of car thieves snuck into a fenced transportation area, opened up a large hole in the fence, and managed to make out with nearly a dozen vehicles, although one was left stuck in a snow-filled embankment and left behind by the thief.
According to CBS News Detroit, the robbery included Ram pickup trucks, Jeep SUVs, and Dodge Durangos — all kinds of vehicles someone was likely hoping to sell. The same plant has been targeted by a large-scale operation like this before, with the vehicles taken to local chop shops for disassembly into parts. And this is probably the same fate of the vehicles this time around as well.
“Stellantis is working with the Detroit Police Department regarding the theft of several vehicles from a lot managed by a third party near the Detroit Assembly Complex–Jefferson,” the automaker told CBS. “As this is an open investigation, the company is not providing any additional details on this incident.”
Nobody seems interested in the Dodge Charger Daytona
So yeah, there isn’t much information out there about the car heist, but one specific fact was reported: the Dodge vehicles that were stolen — those were Durangos. It looked like the Dodge Charger Daytona was left behind, even when it could be taken for free. Just wasn’t worth the risk.
Of course, I’m just assuming here. There could have been no Daytonas in the transportation area available to steal. That would also make sense, since Stellantis likely doesn’t have to ship any out to dealerships ever. Again, I’m just assuming here.
The Dodge Charger Daytona has not been having a very successful debut. In 2025, Dodge reported that 7,421 units sold in the United States, with sales continuing to decline in the later half of the year after the government’s EV tax incentive was discontinued. Only 346 were sold in the final quarter of 2025.
Mopar Insiders reported that Dodge was even planning to drop the R/T for 2026 due to poor sales. Many are still sitting at dealership lots, the source continued to spill. The Scat Pack will be pushing onward, however.
Up until 2023, the Dodge Charger was available with either a 370-hp 5.7L HEMI V8 (R/T) and a 485-hp 6.4L 392 HEMI V8 (Scat Pack) or a supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 engine delivering 797 horsepower (Hellcat). The modern muscle car was known for that notorious high-pitched whine and its deadly power for drag racing. Its two-door cousin, the Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, was even banned from NHRA-sanctioned drag strips without a parachute and other safety modifications.
The Dodge Charger was seen as a straight-line, ignorantly powerful, loud and aggressive brute, with Dodge continuously finding ways to pack in more and more horsepower.
It seemed like a strange choice for Dodge to announce its long-awaited comeback — as an EV. With no screaming V8. No supercharger whine. No ignorant, American muscle. The Dodge Charger Daytona made for a pretty nice-looking EV, but a soulless, disappointing Charger.
I clearly don’t know what this robber was thinking. I swear, I’m not the robber. But if I were, I guess I’d not really risk jail time by lugging a Daytona through a hole in a fence, knowing there’s a very large chance nobody would really want it — or its parts. I never thought I’d see the day where I sympathize with a robber, but I feel I understand them.
At this time, we don’t know much about the robbery. We don’t know the exact vehicles that were available to them and the exact vehicles they took (although Mopar Insider did say there are thousands sitting around), but I’m just saying I’d be willing to make a bet.
