DETROIT — The first all-electric vehicles from Dodge and Jeep are starting to reach U.S. dealers after the launches of both EVs faced delays to fix software problems, executives with the Stellantis NV brands said.

Around 100 Windsor-built Dodge Charger Daytona muscle cars had arrived at dealers as of Friday, brand CEO Matt McAlear said. Jeep Wagoneer S midsize SUVs were expected to hit retailers imminently, but are taking longer to ship and clear as they come from Toluca, Mexico, said Bob Broderdorf, head of Jeep in North America.

The executives spoke with The Detroit News at the Detroit Auto Show, where their brands' all-new EVs feature prominently in displays from parent Stellantis NV.

Both EVs — which are listed as 2024 models — began production over the summer and were supposed to be out last year, but the executives explained they held them back in order to resolve software-related issues.

For the Charger, McAlear said "90%-plus, 95%-plus was all getting the software right," while the hardware side of the vehicle had been in a good place "for a long time."

"The last few months, we have been tweaking all of the software to get the best drive experience, the best charge experience, the best customer experience," the Dodge CEO said.

At Jeep, Broderdorf said the Wagoneer S delays were "100% software"-related. The vehicle is the first all-electric Jeep for North America, though the brand offers an EV in Europe.

"Mechanically the car is sound, it's the software (that is a challenge) on these electric cars — and that is probably part of our learning, or at least my education. How much is actually tied to software is 'Wow,'" Broderdorf said. He added he was amazed to watch how much changes with the vehicle "from flash to flash to flash as they execute software."

The executive, who started his Jeep North America post last fall, acknowledged that the brand is "a little late to the market" in terms of fully-electric offerings, but said it was important not to rush the Wagoneer S out prematurely.

More electric and hybrid offerings are coming soon from Jeep. The more rugged Jeep Recon SUV is expected to be fully electric and come out mid-year, Broderdorf said. Executives have also been touting a midyear release of a replacement SUV for the Jeep Cherokee, which was discontinued in 2023. That will be a hybrid.

At Dodge, McAlear said a four-door sedan version of the electric Charger is scheduled to come out in the second quarter of this year. In the second half, the brand plans to introduce gas-powered versions of the car, to be known as the Charger Sixpack.

The executives hope the all-new vehicles can help boost U.S. sales for both brands. Dodge sales were down 29% in 2024 compared to the prior year, while Jeep slid 9%.

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