FCA's most outdoors-oriented brand is trying to protect the outdoors.
"Green" might not be the first word that comes to mind when you think of Jeep - FCA's rugged, off-road-oriented SUV brand, whichjust revealed the Wrangler Rubicon 392, a V8 Hemi-powered version of its flagship Wrangler. But lately, Jeep has been making an effort to introduce some more eco-conscious options into its lineup, including a line of plug-in-hybrid vehicles dubbed 4xe.
We can look forward to more of that in the future, as Jeep's Global President, Christian Meunier, says he wants to grow the brand globally and make its image over into that of the world's "greenest SUV brand."
That comment was made as Meunier spoke to journalists in Tokyo last month, according to Automotive News, and the strategy will involve identifying and taking advantage of synergies with France's PSA Groupe - the global automaker that FCA is in the process of officially merging with. The Global Jeep President didn't go as far as revealing what those synergies might be, but it's worth noting that PSA has committed to a 100% electrified vehicle range by 2025, and has a wide manufacturing and distribution network throughout Europe.
"There is obviously a lot of potential between platform, drivetrain, cost reduction and things like that. There is a lot of potential opportunities of synergies and manufacturing footprint."
"It's very clear that Jeep will benefit a lot from the merger," Meunier said. "There is obviously a lot of potential between platform, drivetrain, cost reduction and things like that. There is a lot of potential opportunities of synergies and manufacturing footprint."
In September, Jeep revealed its first electrified vehicle for the US market: the plug-in-hybrid Jeep Wrangler 4xe. But as green as the SUV is, Jeep's goals go further than meeting global emissions requirements and wooing environmentally-friendly buyers.
"What is most important is to make our product the most capable and most exciting Jeep ever," Meunier said. "Additional torque, driving in silence, with extra exceptional acceleration and torque - that's the perfect fit. Jeep and electrification are meant to be together."
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