Say hello to the first electric Jeep, a small SUV due on sale in Europe in the first half of 2023, which will precede a full range of electric seven-slot off-roaders due by 2025.
US off-road brand Jeep has revealed its first production electric vehicle, ahead of its European launch in the first half of 2023 – though Australian availability is still to be confirmed.
Few details of the model – known provisionally as the “Jeep BEV” (battery-electric vehicle), but likely to carry a more traditional name to showrooms – have been revealed, however it appears to be a small SUV sized similarly to (or smaller than) the brand’s current entry-level model, the Renegade.
This new Jeep electric SUV will lead a wave of battery-electric vehicles from the American off-road brand, ahead of plans to offer an electric vehicle in “every [market SUV] segment” by 2025″ – which includes today’s Grand Cherokee and Wrangler models, among others.
Plans confirmed overnight will see this include a “pure off-road utility vehicle” and a “lifestyle family SUV” from the Jeep brand in 2024 – though specifics of these vehicles are thin on the ground.
The pair of images released by Jeep overnight are said to show a “concept” version of the new electric car, however with first overseas showroom arrivals only one year away, it’s unlikely the production design will stray far (if at all) from what’s seen here.
While yet to be confirmed by Jeep, the new electric small SUV is expected to be twinned with similar city SUV models from Alfa Romeo (reportedly badged as the Brennero) and Fiat, due to enter production in 2023 or 2024.
These models are slated to ride on parent company Stellantis’ CMP architecture, developed under the former PSA Group (Peugeot and Citroen) for use beneath the Peugeot 2008, Citroen C4, and other small hatch and SUV models.
This platform is capable of both petrol and electric power – though it is yet to be confirmed if the new electric Jeep will be joined by a combustion-engined variant in future.
Automotive News Europe reports production of the new Jeep – codenamed 516, and set to be smaller than the Renegade – will commence with pure petrol power in November 2022, ahead of the fully-electric model in February 2023, and a “mild-hybrid” front-wheel-drive model in January 2024.
While batteries will reportedly be sourced initially from Chinese company CATL, this will switch to Chinese compatriot BYD in July 2023, the publication reports.
It’s reported 110,000 examples of the new Jeep model are targeted to be produced at Stellantis’ Tychy, Poland factory each year, accounting for just over a third of the 300,000 Jeep, Alfa Romeo and Fiat city SUVs allocated for production at the plant each year.
The 2023 Jeep electric SUV will go on sale in Europe in the first half of next year.
Australian launch timing is yet to be confirmed, with a spokesperson for Jeep Australia telling Drive: “No details [to announce] at this time but we will share [our] EV [electric vehicle] plans later this year.”
Jeep boss Christian Meunier says the brand will be a “leader, not a follower” in hybrid and electric cars in Australia.
“Governments are starting to strengthen regulations and [emissions] compliance, and instead of just waiting for the governments to rule … I would like to have a proactive approach in those markets [including Australia and Asia] and bring electrification upfront, because I think it is very special and very exciting for the customers,” he told media last year.
“I am going to push for electrification as a leader, not as a follower. We’re not going to [be] after the other [car makers], we’re going to be first, and we’re going to do everything we can in all [global] regions.”
The post Jeep reveals its first electric car, due in 2023 appeared first on Drive.
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