- Stellantis postponed production of the 2026 Dodge Hornet in Italy amid tariff concerns.
- The company will assess the effects of US tariff policies on the compact crossover.
- European-built vehicles imported to the US are currently subject to a 25 percent tariff.
The Dodge Hornet has hit a bump in the road, this time thanks to the latest round of US tariffs on imported vehicles. Stellantis has decided to delay production of the 2026 model year of the compact crossover, which would have been built in Italy and subject to a 25 percent import tariff before landing in US dealerships.
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According to Stellantis, the company will “assess the effects of US tariff policies” before moving forward with the 2026 Dodge Hornet. For now, there’s no confirmed start date for production.
Built in Italy, Facing US Uncertainty
The Hornet is currently assembled at the Giambattista Vico plant in Pomigliano d’Arco, just outside Naples. First launched in the US for the 2023 model year, the Hornet is offered with both gasoline and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Essentially, it’s a lightly reskinned version of the Alfa Romeo Tonale, sharing most of its underpinnings with some cosmetic differences to align it with Dodge’s design language.
For 2025, pricing for the Dodge Hornet starts at $29,995 for the GT trim with the 2.0-liter engine. The top-spec R/T Plus, equipped with the plug-in hybrid setup, climbs to $47,485. Interestingly, Dodge is still listing the 2024 model year on its website, indicating that unsold inventory remains available.
Sales Trends Show Steep Decline
In its first full year on the market, Dodge sold 20,559 Hornet units in the US, according to AutoNews. However, the numbers have taken a sharp dive in 2025. Sales dropped by 52 percent in the first half of the year, totaling just 5,647 units compared to 11,718 during the same period in 2024. The second quarter was even tougher, with sales plummeting 64 percent to only 1,539 units.
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While the Hornet’s performance has slipped, the Alfa Romeo Tonale is having an even harder time in the US. Just 3,383 units were sold last year. Globally, production dipped to 36,980 units in 2024. One major factor limiting Tonale sales stateside is pricing.
Despite being nearly identical to the Hornet, it starts at $36,535, significantly more than the Hornet’s base MSRP. And unlike the Tonale, the Hornet benefits from being marketed under an American nameplate, which may offer some added appeal for domestic buyers.
Changes Extend Beyond the Hornet
In addition to postponing the Italian-built 2026 Hornet, Dodge has also trimmed the lineup of another model. The Charger Daytona R/T, which was produced in Canada, will not return for the 2026 model year. That leaves the Scat Pack as the sole trim level for Dodge’s upcoming electric muscle car.
