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| Speaking to TOI, FCA India Automobiles Pvt Ltd president and managing director Kevin Flynn said: "We are building an all-new Jeep in India. The vehicle has been under development for sometime and will hit the markets mid next year. We are investing $280 million on a line in the Ranjangaon for manufacturing the vehicle." Jeep will launch the iconic Wrangler and Grand Cherokee, both in CBU variants, later this year. But it is the locally made yet-to-be named Jeep that is expected to sell in numbers. The new Jeep model will be available with both petrol and diesel engines. Jeep plans to first set up exclusive outlets known as Jeep Destinations at Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin in the first phase followed by Kolkata, Lucknow and Chandigarh. Thereafter, it will retail the brand through outlets of Fiat, also a Chrysler company. |
| According to the Canadian, the love for Jeep brand in India is very strong and awareness is not an issue. The company hopes India will play a key role in meeting its 2018 target of selling 2 million Jeep vehicles. Despite the start-stop attempt of the past, Morrison said, the timing is good from two perspective: the industry and the SUV segment are growing in India and the Jeep brand too is on a growth path, posting a more than 22% expansion to close 2015 at a record 1.2 million units. In India, the company has a two-phase strategy. Phase one is entering the market and establishing the brand with the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. It will be importing both SUVs as completely built up units. In the next phase, in 2017, it wants to have a locally manufactured product. Once its plant goes operational, Fiat Chrysler is planning to produce about 50,000 Jeeps a year in India with more than half to be exported, said three vendors in the know of company's plans. |
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Originally Posted by RavenAvi
(Post 3906514)
The Chrysler group, owners of the iconic Jeep brand, are developing a jeep specificially for India. The said jeep is under development right now and will be unveiled by mid-2017, according to Mr Kevin Flynn, President & MD, FCA India Automobiles Pvt Ltd. |
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Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 3907324)
Now, the Renegade runs 4,230 mm in length. Hence, we can safely assume that the SUV being spoken of will be sub-4 meters, even if the length is chopped off only for India. Since they're talking of volumes too, I believe this is a Jeep compact SUV coming our way. |
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Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 3907324)
On a lighter note, certainly won't be the first. We already have a sub-4 meter Jeep on sale :D: |
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Originally Posted by ecenandu
(Post 3962638)
An awesome Jeep commercial. |
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Originally Posted by namit
(Post 3963120)
On a serious note fiat is committed but no firm plan and lack of proper initiatives |
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Originally Posted by GTO
(Post 3907324)
That's awesome to hear! The investment of ~2,000 crores means a serious commitment. I don't think it will be 'specific to India' though. Since a year, there have been talks of a Jeep smaller than the Renegade - Link. Now, the Renegade runs 4,230 mm in length. Hence, we can safely assume that the SUV being spoken of will be sub-4 meters, even if the length is chopped off only for India. Since they're talking of volumes too, I believe this is a Jeep compact SUV coming our way. On a lighter note, certainly won't be the first. We already have a sub-4 meter Jeep on sale :D: |
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Originally Posted by shankar.balan
(Post 4023566)
The Mahindra Thar - the Poor Man's Jeep Wrangler. Same DNA and all! Saying that, I wonder how difficult it would be, for Mahindra's to re-write the book, by adding some of those new Safety features into the Thar. Things like some airbags, ABS, Hill Hold and Electric 4WD and make it some sort of Super Thar. Some ergonomic refinements would be good too, along with a secure, lockable, yet removable Hard Top with some excellent storage in the back. A re-done suspension job to make the vehicle a little more comfortable in terms of ride quality and general behaviour on and off the road. Plus of course, incorporating all the core values of power, torque, 4WD and the rest of what makes the Thar the Thar. Im very sure there will be quite a few takers. If Jeep were able to thoroughly modernise the WW2 MB and create the Wrangler Unlimited TrailHawk version with all those zillions of features, I m sure Mahindra can do the same if they put some thought and investment into it...God Knows it took them long enough to come up with the Thar itself though they had all the knowhow, expertise, dies and everything else right at hand for years! Wonder how long it will take them (if at all) to come up with a real candidate for a less expensive Jeep Wrangler alternative. Why bother paying 50 lacs for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited if one can get an upgraded Thar type vehicle (with all the bells and whistles) at about 1/3rd the price? |
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Originally Posted by Aroy
(Post 4023788)
Considering that in our price sensitive market, Bolero trumps over Scorpio, it will be difficult to sell the idea of Wrangle equivalent Indian product for 20L, let alone 30L+ (Look at what happened to Aria. It was a technologically ahead but a marketing dud due to its price). |
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Originally Posted by shankar.balan
(Post 4023566)
Things like some airbags, ABS, Hill Hold and Electric 4WD and make it some sort of Super Thar. Some ergonomic refinements would be good too, along with a secure, lockable, yet removable Hard Top with some excellent storage in the back. A re-done suspension job to make the vehicle a little more comfortable in terms of ride quality and general behaviour on and off the road. |
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Originally Posted by Aroy
(Post 4023788)
What I feel is that the idea of basic Thar was excellent, as it keeps the Ex-Showroom price low (so that the ORT is low). What is needed is a host of post purchase options; similar to Wrangler to customise the Thar; that are backed by the factory with proper warranty. |
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Originally Posted by shankar.balan
(Post 4023566)
Why bother paying 50 lacs for the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited if one can get an upgraded Thar type vehicle (with all the bells and whistles) at about 1/3rd the price? |
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