(Archive) Stellantis Ditches Carbon Credits, Says Goodbye to the HEMI V8
(Archive) Stellantis stopped buying Tesla carbon credits and phased out HEMI V8s to save millions, shifting toward EVs and the Hurricane I6.
Editor’s Note (Archive): This article was originally written before Stellantis confirmed plans to bring back a new V8. It’s preserved here for context on the company’s strategy shift at the time.
For years, Stellantis leaned on Tesla’s emissions credits to keep regulators happy and fines at bay — all while pumping out HEMI V8-powered monsters that enthusiasts loved. But according to CEO Carlos Tavares, that era is over. No more buying carbon credits. No more paying Tesla billions. And no more easy excuses for keeping the V8 alive.
Dodge and Ram boss Tim Kuniskis called the move a “game-changer,” since it forces Stellantis to live or die by its own compliance strategies instead of cutting checks to Tesla. Considering Tesla pocketed nearly $9 billion from selling credits, walking away from that system should save Stellantis serious cash. But it also meant taking a hard look at the HEMI.
That reality hit fast. The HEMI V8 began disappearing across Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram lineups. The Ram 1500 TRX and Dodge Durango were among the latest casualties, bowing out after the 2024 model year. In their place? Stellantis pushed the twin-turbo Hurricane I6 and EVs as their compliance lifeline. Sure, the Hurricane makes great power, but it can’t replicate that raw V8 sound and character that’s practically automotive DNA.
Meanwhile, competitors like Ford and GM took a different path — doubling down on new V8 development while also expanding their EV portfolios. Stellantis, by contrast, looked like it was betting the farm on regulation keeping the V8 buried.
And yet… rumors kept swirling about a new HEMI on the horizon. At the time, it felt like the V8’s coffin was sealed. But as we’ve seen since, the story of Stellantis and the HEMI may not be over just yet.
AutoZealot Take: Stellantis’ decision to ditch Tesla’s carbon credits wasn’t just about saving money — it was about forcing evolution. Killing the HEMI felt sacrilegious, but it signaled a manufacturer finally betting on its own engineering. The irony? That same push for efficiency may have paved the way for the next V8 revival.
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