Jeep will release three new models by the end of this year. The representatives of the brand made this statement at a conference of the Stellantis concern with the participation of the National Dealer Association of the United States.
The Indy Auto Man used car dealership experts expect that in case of a significant update to the model range, customers will see new names among the Jeep models for sale in Indiana.
Upcoming Lineup Upgrades
One of the new products is already known. At the end of the year, Jeep will bring to market the Recon electric crossover with increased off-road capabilities, which should become a battery alternative to the current Wrangler.
According to one version, the second will be the revived Jeep Cherokee or its successor on the same platform as the Recon. The company previously planned to abandon the Cherokee name under pressure from representatives of the Indian people of the same name. Nothing is known about the third new product yet.
Indians Against the Cherokee Model
The Cherokee name first appeared in the Jeep lineup in 1974. From 2002 to 2013, this SUV was called Liberty, but Jeep decided to return to the historical name. Cherokee leaders said that the manufacturer did not consult with them about the possibility of using this word for the car’s name. Meanwhile, the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models are among Jeep’s best-sellers in the United States.
Cherokee Indian Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said that Jeep should stop using the self-designation of the largest Indian tribe in the United States as a name for a product.
Jeep has already responded to Chuck Hoskin Jr.’s statement, noting, firstly, that the company’s vehicle names are intended to honor the memory of Native Americans for their nobility and valor, and secondly, that the company is always open to dialogue with the leaders of the Cherokee Nation.
New Jeep Compass
The debut of the new generation of Jeep Compass is scheduled for 2025. It is one of the models whose appearance has already been confirmed. This crossover will be produced with a full range of power plants – internal combustion engines, hybrids, and fully electric. On electric traction, the new Compass will be able to travel up to 404 miles. The brand also plans to update the small Renegade crossover and expand the use of hybrid plants. In particular, the Gladiator pickup truck should receive a gasoline-electric version of the 4xe.
In the middle of last year, Jeep promised to increase its model line to 13 by 2027. Most of them were planned to be electrified in one way or another. In general, Jeep’s plans include five electric vehicles, while the first, a large Wagoneer S crossover, has not yet found popularity even on the domestic market.
Unlike the gasoline-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer SUVs, which have a frame structure, the electric vehicle is built on a separate STLA Large battery platform from Stellantis. Another version of this platform is also used for the electric muscle car Dodge Charger Daytona. The new product went on sale only last fall, but the official dealers in the US are already giving massive discounts, expressed in some cases in five-digit amounts.
However, Jeep expects to compensate for these losses at the expense of Europe, where, according to the company’s calculations, by 2026, half of sales in this segment will be electric cars.