Jeep looks to electric future

Jeep is planning to launch fully electric vehicles (EVs) in a bid to become “the greenest, most sustainable SUV company”.

Global president Christian Meunier says several models are on the cards, including one aimed at off-roading enthusiasts that will be capable of driving in complete silence. It will also be able to power camping gear at night.

“There are so many things we need to bring together to make Jeep a modern, contemporary brand that will break through and sustain for the next 80 years,” Christian Meunier tells Autocar. 

“To make Jeep the greenest, most sustainable SUV company is a little bit of a challenge, but it’s the most exciting one.”

Meunier adds the market will soon see a “lot of things we are working on, like BEV”. Jeep has already showcased plug-in hybrid technology in the Renegade, Compass and Wrangler, with those models now being cold weather tested in Sweden. 

It’s unknown what models will get the zero-emissions treatment, but Jeep announced in 2018 that four electric SUVs were in the pipeline.

“Either you try to be compliant and do the bare minimum or you embrace it and go full speed on it,” says Meunier. “The latter is the way we should go … You’ll see a lot of electrified products in the next few years. It’s not about having small cars to offset big cars; every car will have a role to play.”