The prestigious Car of the Year award at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, has been bestowed upon the Dodge Charger, which is manufactured in Windsor, Ontario. The announcement of this accolade was made early Wednesday morning. The Dodge Charger triumphed over the Honda Prelude from Japan and the Nissan Sentra from Mexico to secure this distinguished honor.
At the auto show, Dodge CEO Matt McAlear expressed his gratitude to the workforce at the Windsor Assembly Plant for their dedication in delivering a high-quality product to dealers. The Dodge Charger lineup includes impressive models like the 550-horsepower Dodge Charger Scat Pack, the 420-horsepower Dodge Charger R/T, and the all-electric 670-horsepower Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack.
The Car of the Year award is determined by a panel of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada. The president of the union representing the Windsor Assembly Plant workers, Unifor 444 President James Stewart, hailed the news of the award as “fantastic.” He credited the skilled workforce at the Windsor Assembly Plant and the trade agreements that facilitate the production of the Canadian-assembled Dodge Charger with parts sourced from across North America.
In response to remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump advocating for more car production within the U.S., Stewart emphasized that Canada possesses the resources and manufacturing capabilities to independently produce vehicles. McAlear highlighted the Dodge Charger’s global appeal, designed to cater to diverse markets worldwide.
The collaboration between the company and Unifor led to the manufacturing of the Dodge Charger in Windsor, a decision based on the longstanding partnership with the union. The auto show is currently taking place at Huntington Park in downtown Detroit, welcoming visitors from January 17 to 25.