If you thought 2024 couldn’t get any weirder, buckle up — because one of the most powerful SUVs ever built can now be purchased at a discount… by flipping burgers.
Yes, seriously.
Wendy’s, Burger King, and Taco Bell employees now qualify for factory-backed discounts on the 710-horsepower Dodge Durango Hellcat — the most unhinged three-row family missile America has ever built.
If this sounds like satire, it isn’t.
It’s Stellantis’ real Affiliate Rewards expansion, and it might be the wildest automotive perk of the year.
Let’s break down how a fast-food job just became a gateway to a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 monster.
How Wendy’s Became the Gateway to Hellcat Ownership
This headline didn’t come from The Onion — it came straight from Stellantis.
The company expanded its Affiliate Rewards program to include employees of:
- Wendy’s
- Burger King
- Taco Bell
- And many more large franchise groups
This means fast-food workers now qualify for the same corporate-level auto discounts as tech employees, healthcare workers, and major industrial partners.
And the discount applies to all Stellantis brands:
- Dodge
- Jeep
- Ram
- Chrysler
- Fiat
- Alfa Romeo
But the biggest shock is that it also applies to the 2026 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat.
The same SUV with:
- 710 horsepower
- Supercharged 6.2-liter V8
- 645 lb-ft of torque
- AWD
- 7 seats
- 0–60 in 3.5 seconds
- Top speed: 180 mph
The fact that someone working a drive-thru headset can now get a better deal than some dealership employees?
Absolutely peak 2024.
So What’s the Deal? 1% Below Invoice — No Haggling Required
The Affiliate Rewards pricing structure is extremely straightforward, and honestly, shockingly fair.
The Deal:
- 1% below dealer invoice
- $75 admin fee
- No negotiation required
- No dealer games allowed
For reference:
A fully loaded 2026 Durango Hellcat stickers close to $80k before options.
After the discount structure and typical fees, you’re looking at:
Estimated Out-the-Door Price:
~$93,000 (before taxes)
Is that cheap?
Not exactly.
Is it far better than MSRP?
Absolutely — especially considering Hellcats historically sell with markups.
And compared to the used market, where Hellcat Durangos routinely fetch $100k+?
This program suddenly looks like a savings account for horsepower addicts.
Why the Hellcat Is Banned in Some States (and Who Can Buy It)
There is one catch — and unfortunately, it’s a big one for some buyers.
The 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 cannot currently be sold in:
- California
- New York
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Washington
- Virginia
- Oregon
- Colorado
…due to state-level emissions restrictions.
But Stellantis says these restrictions should ease soon as 2026 model-year adjustments roll out.
For now?
If you live outside the “Hellcat Ban States,” you’re cleared for takeoff.
The Hellcat Discount Applies to More Than Just Dodge
This isn’t just a Durango story.
The Affiliate Rewards program, now open to Wendy’s and other fast-food workers, applies to all Stellantis brands.
Meaning employees can snag discounts on:
- Jeep Wrangler 4xe
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Ram 1500
- Ram TRX successor (RHO / Hurricane models)
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio
- Dodge Charger and Challenger Last Call models (where available)
- Dodge Charger Daytona EV
It’s one of the most generous and surprising employee perks in the auto industry.
Why Stellantis Is Doing This — The Real Reason
This isn’t entirely random — Stellantis wants:
- More volume for their high-margin vehicles
- More EV customers using their charging network partnerships
- Broader adoption of Stellantis brands among younger buyers
- To counteract Tesla and Ford loyalty growth
- To pump sales into fresh-off-inventory models
And there’s no bigger volume workforce in America than the fast-food industry.
Wendy’s alone has 200,000+ employees.
Burger King? 300,000+.
Taco Bell? Over 350,000.
Offering factory-backed deals to a combined workforce of nearly a million people?
That’s a strategic masterstroke.
But Let’s Be Honest — The Hellcat Angle Is What Broke the Internet
The visual alone is hilarious:
A Wendy’s crew member hands someone a Frosty…
…then jumps into a 710-horsepower Durango Hellcat in the parking lot.
It’s absurd.
It’s chaotic.
It’s also real.
And it’s arguably the most American automotive story of 2024.
Final Verdict: From Drive-Thru to Drag Strip
The 2026 Durango Hellcat was already one of the most outrageous family vehicles ever built.
Now?
It’s within reach for people who never would’ve imagined they could buy one.
This perk isn’t just a discount — it’s a cultural moment.
So what’s the move?
Wendy’s or Burger King for your Hellcat hookup?
