We know Jeep plans to start building three SUVs in China, some by the end of next year. Chrysler remains tightlipped on exactly which models we'll see there, but based on statements from the people in charge it's a safe bet the Cherokee, Renegade, and Compass are destined for the Chinese market.
Chrysler has been looking to make Jeep its spearhead into the Chinese market, where everyone seems to agree that small SUVs are going to all the rage.
Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has said neither the Wrangler nor Grand Cherokee would be built in China, and Jeep CEO Mike Manley has been quoted calling the Cherokee and Renegade "ideal for the Chinese Market."
That leaves the Compass and Patriot as the potential "third vehicle," and since the Compass is already being imported to China it seems like that decision's already been made.
Frankly I don't think the Patriot will be long for this world once the Renegade hits dealerships. The vehicles look too similar, and the Renegade is supposed to be the cheap Jeep but it's going to have more toys than the Patriot. Doesn't make sense to run them together unless the Patriot gets its own round of upgrades.
Despite Chrysler's claims of a "late 2015" Chinese assembly start date, CarNewsChina thinks Renegade and Compass production won't start until the year after, at a new facility in Guangzhou. They're also saying the Cherokee will continue to be imported to China until production can commence at the Changsha factory which currently cranks out the Fiat Viaggio and Ottimo; vehicles that share a platform with the Cherokee.
For the American market, Jeep will continue to crank out their SUVs from their existing facilities in Michigan and Ohio. The only exception will be the Renegade, which will come from Italy and possibly Brazil in the future.
Image: Jeep