--- title: "Dodge CEO Asks ‘Do You Need a Radio’ in ‘Back-to-Basics’ Quest for Entry-Level Cars" description: "[Dodge]() is trying to figure out its place in the world, as its volume seller [vanishes]() and V8s are suddenly back on the table. The Durango has [more than picked up the slack]() in sales. But accessible, affordable performance that…" date: "2026-04-03" modified: "2026-04-03" authors: - name: "Adam Ismail" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/adam-ismail" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/dodge-ceo-asks-do-you-need-a-radio-in-back-to-basics-quest-for-entry-level-cars" categories: - "Dodge News" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "dodge" --- # Dodge CEO Asks ‘Do You Need a Radio’ in ‘Back-to-Basics’ Quest for Entry-Level Cars ![SIXPACK-powered 2026 Dodge Charger R/T interior]() *\Stellantis\* [Dodge]() is trying to figure out its place in the world, as its volume seller [vanishes]() and V8s are suddenly back on the table. The Durango has [more than picked up the slack]() in sales. But accessible, affordable performance that was once the brand's ticket to glory is fading out of view. CEO Matt McAlear says it could be again, given a "back-to-basics" approach. "I think the biggest thing that we need to start doing is challenging the industry on what the expectations are from an entry-level base vehicle," McAlear told *The Drive's* Joel Feder on the floor of the 2026 New York Auto Show. "And I don't mean that from the word cheap or less—I mean that from that of 'back-to-the-basics.' Analog gauges. Do you need a radio? Do you just have speakers that you Bluetooth to?" "We need to push forward and maybe make people uncomfortable, but give them something they don't realize that they want," the chief executive continued. "And I think that's an industry-wide thing, that it's time to always—you have to be evolutionary in so many of your mainstream segments, but you take brands like Dodge, you take something like that. We're a brand that can absolutely turn a segment on its head and bring something to market that no one saw coming. We've done it before over the years. We did it with the first Viper." This theoretical realignment of what's truly necessary in a modern car is happening, but Dodge's isn't spearheading it—at least not yet. The upcoming [Slate electric truck]() expects to challenge customers' notions of creature comforts, as the cheapest version won't offer a radio or power windows, though there will be a shelf for owners to place a Bluetooth speaker. At the same time, there are regulatory requirements automakers have to contend with. Backup cameras are a popular example. And, two years ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—under a previous Department of Transportation—[passed a new rule]() requiring automatic emergency braking in new vehicles. Analog gauges, for one, might be considered a low-tech and thus cost-saving measure, but plenty of automakers today use screens instead precisely [because they're so much cheaper]() than physical parts and buttons. Besides, the law requires at least one in-car screen for compulsory backup cameras. ![]() *Dodge had several great ideas for a baby Viper over the years, like the Copperhead, but they never became anything more than concepts. *Stellantis** On the topics of affordability, doing the unexpected, and the Viper, it should be said that Dodge has flirted with the concept of an entry-level sports car for decades, but never seized the moment. OK, there was the riotous [Neon SRT-4](), and for a bit, it seemed like the brand would try to recapture some of that spirit with [a GLH-badged Hornet](). But even before that, we had ideas like the Copperhead—a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive roadster focused on handling, with a truly distinctive design unlike anything else, before or since. The Copperhead should've made it to market. Some 30 years later, Dodge's angle is more power than pure fun, but it doesn't have to be. I'd even be willing to take one without a radio. *Got a tip? Reach out to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Adam is a Senior Editor at The Drive, concentrating on curating and developing the site's slate of daily journalism, from initial pitch to final copy edit. When he's not at his desk researching leads and working with writers, he's testing vehicles or reviewing racing games, new and old. He joined The Drive in 2023, following seven years of covering consumer technology and cars. A car lover and gamer since his earliest memories, Adam came to know the automotive world through video games. First it was Daytona USA, Sega Rally, and Ridge Racer; then came Need For Speed, which inspired an encyclopedic knowledge of '90s supercars, and, of course, Gran Turismo. If not for them, he'd assuredly be doing something else right now. Adam is based in the suburbs outside Philly, where there are ample roads for his hot hatch to stretch its legs. In his car, he's probably listening to indie rock, drum and bass, or Yankees baseball. ### Author social links [Bluesky]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()