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Tuesday, October 13, 2026 · 4-minute read
Good morning. Today, we’re putting Stellantis’ shipment report alongside September’s truck discounts, with an eye on your next inventory decision and the next deal at the desk. We also have claims help for Panhandle teams, a franchise-contract lesson from Ford’s court fight and some Hellcat chatter worth separating from an actual product announcement. Let’s get into it.
THE BIG PICTURE
Stellantis shipments fall, but the brands tell different stories
Original Morning Drive graphic. Unaudited estimates; regional changes are not additive. Stellantis, October 13.
One company, two very different inventory conversations. Stellantis said this morning that estimated North American shipments fell 12% year over year in the third quarter, primarily because of planned production downtime affecting certain Jeep models. (Stellantis’s October 13 release)
Grand Cherokee and Compass shipments each declined by approximately 25,000 vehicles, while Ram shipments increased by roughly 17,000, partially offsetting the decline. (Stellantis release) That is a reason to look beneath the corporate headline before drawing conclusions about a particular rooftop.
Worldwide consolidated shipments were approximately 1.3 million vehicles, down 1%, as a 10% increase in Enlarged Europe helped offset weakness elsewhere. (Stellantis release) But this is not a retail-sales report: the company defines shipments as vehicles delivered to dealers, distributors or directly to retail and fleet customers, and describes these estimates as unaudited and subject to adjustment. (Definitions and qualifications)
For Florida Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram operators, the practical move is to separate the inbound pipeline from the demand picture. Review what is scheduled to arrive by nameplate against what your customers are asking for, rather than treating a regional shipment decline as proof that every model needs the same pricing response.
The distinction matters in both directions. Fewer vehicles shipped does not, by itself, establish faster retail turns or a local shortage. More vehicles shipped does not establish that your store has the right trims. Keep the allocation conversation specific.
AT THE DESK
The discount is in the truck aisle
A useful finding from CDK’s October 8 report on September transactions: its ten-model bestseller basket averaged $36,418, up 2.7% from a year earlier, while its four leading light-duty pickups averaged $55,912, down 0.6%. (CDK’s original research)
Truck incentives averaged $5,084, up 32% year over year. (CDK) The opportunity is not “discount everything.” It is to match the affordability conversation to the actual vehicle and available offer.
These are selected national model baskets, not an all-vehicle or Florida average; prices subtract dealer and manufacturer incentives and exclude taxes, while the ten-model basket includes Tacoma. (Methodology) Use the split to sharpen your comparisons, not to promise a customer that their deal should match a national average.
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FLORIDA FIRST
Recovery moves to the claim file
Florida’s October 12 update announced insurance-assistance hubs opening in Pensacola and Destin, a new practical resource beyond the bridge-loan program covered yesterday. (Governor’s recovery update)
The locations are UWF’s Parking Lot B, 11000 University Parkway, and Destin’s Morgan Sports Complex, 4200 Indian Bayou Trail; the state lists general hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Locations and hours) Before sending an employee or making a business-claim visit, confirm hours and whether the relevant insurer and coverage can be handled through the consumer helpline, 1-877-693-5236. (Florida DFS assistance)
One date for the controller: bridge-loan applications run through November 25, or until funds are exhausted. (State announcement) That is an optional assistance-program deadline, not a guarantee of dealership eligibility.
CASE LESSON · SEPTEMBER 3
The contract date changed the outcome
In an unreported September 3 opinion, Maryland’s intermediate appellate court reversed a $5,766,017 judgment against Ford in its dispute with Charles Winegardner and others over a dealership acquisition. (Ford v. Winegardner opinion)
The court held that Ford’s right of first refusal under a 2001 agreement was a vested contractual right that a 2009 Maryland statutory amendment could not constitutionally impair retroactively; it remanded for judgment in Ford’s favor. (Court’s reasoning)
This is a dated Maryland lesson, not Florida law or a new Tuesday ruling. Before relying on a franchise restriction in a buy-sell deal, have counsel line up the original agreement, amendments and relevant statutory dates. The timeline can be as important as the clause.
QUICK READ
A Hellcat watch item, not an order guide
An October 12 MoparInsiders report, citing an internal powertrain document, points to a supercharged V8 Charger for model year 2028, while expressly noting that Dodge has not officially announced it. (MoparInsiders’ original reporting) Interesting product-planning intelligence; not a basis for promising customers timing, pricing or an allocation.