Jeep on Wednesday unveiled the first steps in a plan to reshape its portfolio, starting with the launch of two electric vehicles in North America by 2025 and one in Europe next year.
The Jeep Recon and Wagoneer S will be the first all-electric Jeeps for the US market when they enter production in 2024. Two more will be announced later as the automaker moves forward to electrify its lineup.
Aiming to become the global leader in electrified SUVs, the 80-year-old, rugged Detroit brand plans to convert half of its sales in North America — and all of its sales in Europe — to EVs by 2030.
Until now, the brand has focused on creating plug-in hybrid versions of its popular Jeep models, and plans to offer an electrified version for each of its models by 2025. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling plug-in hybrid for both North America and Europe. The Grand Cherokee 4xe will be launched in the US later this year.
Harnessing the global scale of Jeep’s parent company is critical to the electrification of the brand, said Jeep CEO Christian Meunier. Amsterdam-based Stellantis has invested more than $35 billion in battery, software and technology development through 2025 and expects to launch more than 75 new battery-electric models by 2030, including 25 nameplates in North America.
“Stellantis gives us that scale to take advantage of the engineering, design, software resources and all the horsepower we need to accelerate electrification and keep the Jeep DNA intact,” Meunier said.
Here’s a taste of what’s to come:
Jeep Recon
All-electric Jeep Recon
The Jeep Recon will be rugged and efficient enough to traverse the 22-mile off-road Rubicon Trail outside Lake Tahoe, with enough battery range to drive back into town and recharge, the company said.
The EV will come with traditional Jeep features, including the brand’s Selec-Terrain traction management system, e-locker axle technology, underbody protection, tow bars and off-road tires. The one-touch powertop and removable doors expose the EV to the elements, while the latest generation of Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system provides detailed guides for off-road trails.
Both the Recon and Wagoneer S will open for customer orders early next year. They will be built on STLA Large, the automaker’s full-size EV platform. Although the SUVs are aimed at different customers, they share several common elements, according to Meunier.
“The rationale is quite general,” he said. “The platform is the same, the battery packs are the same, but then the suspension, the top hat and all the capabilities will be very different.”
Jeep Wagoneer S
Fully Electric Wagoneer S
The all-electric Wagoneer, codenamed Wagoneer S, will produce nearly 600 horsepower and travel approximately 400 miles on a fully charged battery. The performance SUV accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.
It was designed to appeal to a different customer than the Jeep Recon.
“One is really an adventure machine and the other is more of a reinvention of the American modern icon: high performance, very fast and very premium,” said Meunier.
Jeep Avenger
All-electric Jeep Avenger
The Wagoneer S and Recon won’t be Jeep’s first battery-electric models worldwide. That award goes to the Jeep Avenger, which will arrive in European showrooms early next year.
The Jeep Avenger will be smaller than the Jeep Renegade – the brand’s smallest American model – and will not make its way to the US.
“There is no real market potential in North America” for SUVs of that size, Meunier said.
Jeep said the Avenger, which will be built in Tychy, Poland, will have a range of about 250 miles, as well as “impressive ground clearance, break through and approach angles for its segment.”
The Avenger will debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. Meanwhile, the European market has shown a hunger for electrified Jeeps.
In addition to the Wrangler 4xe, Jeep also sells plug-in hybrid versions of its smaller Renegade and Compass SUVs. Half of the brand’s European sales come from the 4xe range.
China
Jeep hasn’t detailed its plans for the Chinese market, but Meunier said the EVs will eventually make their way to the local market.
“The strategy in China is moving a bit, but that’s the goal,” he said.
Stellaantis said in July it planned to pull out of a long-term joint venture with China Guangzhou Automobile (GAC).