Chrysler 300 production ends

Two years after the Chrysler 300 was withdrawn from the Australian market, the big sedan has exited the North American market, too, with the final units built in December. The last example of the limited-edition, Hemi V8-engined 2023 Chrysler 300C was bult on 8 December, with the final V6 300 rolling off the line on 20 December.

In the same month that Stellantis closed the book on the Chrysler 300, production of the Dodge Challenger and Charger also wrapped up. The Charger nameplate will return on an EV (and possibly a turbo six-cylinder car) in the near future, with a Challenger return likely, but there appears to be no plans to reinvent the 300 in any form.

The Brampton, Ontario, plant where all three models were built will be retooled for electric vehicle production and re-open in 2025.

“Our workforce here at Brampton Assembly has a reputation for building top-quality vehicles, and the Chrysler 300C was no different,” said Alex Pittas, plant manager, Brampton Assembly. “We are proud of the workmanship and detail that went into all 2,200 [Hemi V8 final editions] that rolled down our assembly line in 2023.”

The V8 lineage of the new 300 started in 2005, but can be traced back to 1955 with the original ‘C-300’ that spawned the famous 300 ‘letter series’ performance cars that were released annually up to 1965. A Hemi was the standard engine in these models from 1955 to 1958, after which it was replaced with a wedge-head 413 V8. From 1962 to 1971, a non-letter Chrysler 300 was also available, but never featured a Hemi, with 383, 413 and 440 V8s offered across the model’s production run.

The new 300 was launched as a 2005 model in late 2004 after being presented in concept form a year earlier. The all-new, retro-styled 300 brought rear-wheel drive V8 power back to the American four-door sedan market, while Australia’s love of V8s meant the 300 was released here within a year of its US launch.

From the outset, the new 300 was available with a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 producing 340hp (253kW), while the later 300C SRT8 offered even more, with 425hp (317kW) from a 6.1-litre Hemi. Later still, a 6.4 Hemi delivered 470hp and 470lb/ft (350kW and 637Nm).

The immediate popularity of the 300 saw a ‘Touring’ station wagon added, plus multiple offshoots, including V6-engined and AWD variants. There was also a short-lived Dodge Magnum sibling, which was built off the same platform as the 300, but only offered as a wagon.

The farewell 2023 Chrysler 300C is powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8, producing 485hp and 475lb/ft (361kW and 644Nm), that can propel the big sedan from standstill to 60mph (97km/h) in 4.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 160mph (257km/h). Other features defining the MY23 300C include a 3.09 limited slip diff, active suspension, red Brembo brake calipers and rounded exhaust tips, finished in black, for the model’s active exhaust system.

A new iteration of the tri-colour 300C badge, first seen on the 1957 300C, is applied to the 2023 model’s grille and bootlid, with additional cosmetic features including black chrome accents on the grille and lower fascia, plus black headlight and tail light bezels. Inside, black Laguna leather front seats are embossed with the new 300C logo.

Announced at the 2022 North American International Auto Show, production of the MY23 300C sedan was limited to 2,000 units for the US and 200 for Canada. When orders opened, the entire allocation sold out in twelve hours.

“Chrysler brand is proud to mark the legacy of the Chrysler 300C as a true automotive icon, one of the original muscle cars representing bold American luxury,” said Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand chief executive officer.

“As we celebrate the last Hemi-powered 300C with our Brampton team members, we’re also excited to work together as Chrysler brand moves forward to a sustainable all-electric future as part of the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan.”

In Australia, the 300C story came to an end in 2021, when Chrysler announced they were exiting the Australian market in favour of Jeep SUVs and crossovers, plus other marques and models under the broader Stellantis umbrella. Australia had been the last RHD market for the 300C, which actually saw sales increase following the end of Commodore and Falcon V8 production, but the bump in interest wasn’t enough to warrant ongoing RHD manufacture.

While a ‘Pacer’ limited edition was released here in 2019, there was no farewell model for the Australian market like the Hemi-powered 300C offered in North America.