Made in India!
FCA has announced a fresh round of investments and local assembly for four of its SUVs including the Grand Cherokee
FCA WILL INVEST USD 250 MILLION IN INDIA FOR 4 LOCALLY-MADE
JEEP SUVS
JEEP INDIA IS ROLLING UP ITS SLEEVES and is ready to enter the ring. In a bid to bolster its product portfolio in India, Fiat Chrysler India has committed an investment of USD 250 million (`1827 crore), towards local production of four new Jeep SUVs, including the 2021 Jeep Compass, a three-row Jeep SUV, the Jeep Wrangler and the nextgeneration Jeep Grand Cherokee L that was recently revealed in North America.
Local assembly of the Wrangler especially is big news as it can bring down its current sticker of `63-69 lakh considerably. Launched in 2019 as a full import, the Wrangler is offered in two variants, Unlimited and Rubicon, and both are powered by a 2-litre turbo-petrol engine that produces 264bhp and 400Nm. What makes the Wrangler a truly go-anywhere machine is a suite of features that enhance its off-road ability. It has a permanent four-wheel-drive system, locking front and rear differentials, electronically controlled front sway bar and all-terrain tyres, among many other features.
The Wrangler will also be accompanied by the Grand Cherokee L that broke cover last month. Based on the Grand Wagoneer concept, the Grand Cherokee is likely to be launched in a fully loaded long wheelbase ‘L’ trim that, for the first time, introduces three rows of seating on Jeep’s flagship. For global markets, the SUV gets a range of petrol V6 and V8 engine options, but for India we’re expecting smaller capacity power plants. It sports plenty of modern elements like LED-lighting all around, a redesigned seven-slat grille and a prominent beltline that stretches the length of the SUV, connecting the headlamps and taillamps. The flagship also sports plenty of off-road equipment including locking differentials and three distinct 4WD systems. Both the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee L will be assembled at the Ranjangaon plant and are expected to launch by the end of 2022.
That said, Jeep has just launched the 2021 Compass that now brings to the table all-new interiors and oodles of features to keep up with the competition. Jeep also has two all-new SUVs under development, a seven-seater and a sub four-metre compact SUV, both of which are expected to arrive within the next couple of years. Given the timely arrival of these new and exciting products, expect Jeep’s fortunes, and its fanbase in India to substantially grow in the coming years.