First of their kind for the manufacturer, these SUVs are touted as having exceptional off-road capability.
In a press conference earlier this month, Jeep unveiled the first official photos of its first mass-produced electric vehicle. This new SUV has yet to be given a name. Stellantis, the parent company, has shown an interest in introducing the vehicle sometime in 2023.
The Jeep Recon, a four-wheel-drive midsize SUV similar to the Jeep Wrangler and Ford’s gas-powered Bronco Sport, is among the new cars. Manufacturing will begin in 2024 at a facility in North America. There was no information provided on pricing ranges or any further details at this time.
Even though Jeep’s first electric vehicle (EV) is undoubtedly thrilling, brand purists will likely be dismayed to learn that it is not based on either the Grand Cherokee or the Wrangler.
Instead, the first battery-powered product from the company takes design cues from a smaller crossover called the Compass. The only discernible changes are the addition of protective sheathing and a fake grille with what seems to be an illuminated letter “e.”
However, the mystery car isn’t the only Jeep with a battery upgrade in the works. By 2024, we should see the arrival of the Wrangler’s all-electric counterpart.
Jeep’s new EVs are the automaker’s first step toward its goal of shifting to battery-electric cars by the year 2030, when that number will have increased to 50 percent in the United States and 100 percent in Europe.
Starting in 2024, Jeep will produce the all-electric Wagoneer S, a premium midsize SUV that is also capable of off-road travel. With a range of 650 kilometres on a single charge, 600 horsepower, and a sprint time of around 3.5 seconds from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour (km/h), the electric extension of the Wagoneer sub-brand promises to be a game-changer in the automotive industry.
The Wagoneer S will also be assembled in North America, albeit exactly where that will be is still a secret. There is no information available on the cost of this SUV either.
The Jeep Avenger, a compact SUV that will be on sale in Europe in 2019 and will be the company’s first entirely electric car, will make its debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. The tiny Avenger, with its 400-kilometre-per-charge range, is more suited for Europe and so will not be going to the United States.
By the year’s end in 2025, Jeep hopes to have four fully electric sport utility vehicles available in North America and Europe. The company’s goal is to dominate the market for emission-free sport utility vehicles worldwide. The company declared this summer that by 2025, all of its cars would be available in “zero-emission” variants; this comes after the company began selling plug-in hybrid models.
