The flagship showroom of Jeep in Malaysia continues to fly its flag high and there are still shiny models in the showroom. But with no new models in the horizon, no local assemble plans (CKD) and the rising US currency, can Jeep survive in Malaysia?
Especially today with CKD & EEV incentives allowing Mercedes-Benz to price their SUV’s at hard to resist prices and BMW continuing to sell their plug-in hybrid X5 at a great asking price and let us not forget the ever commanding hot selling Volvo XC90 plug-in-hybrid.
Jeep will continue building the current-generation Wrangler until March 2018, meaning old and new generations will be sold side-by-side for several months. Jeep hasn’t revealed too many specifics on the next Wrangler, but information on the internet says it is supposed to retain its classic body-on-frame construction with a new aluminum-intensive body. Diesel and hybrid Wranglers are also rumored, but yet to be confirmed.
Meanwhile Chinese automaker Great Wall Motors said last month it wants to talk to Fiat Chrysler about buying over the Jeep brand. A week later, Great Wall Motors cited “big uncertainties” about buying the Jeep brand in a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, according to Bloomberg News. Great Wall Motors has since not made any statements.
Great Wall Motors which is controlled by the billionaire Wei Jianjun, has struggled in recent years to find success with new models in home town China, but it has since enjoyed growing revenue and profit from overseas markets.
