Will Jeep sell its new affordable EV in Malaysia and will it still be affordable here
Jeep is strangely fully embracing electrification despite slowing electric vehicle (EV) sales and is poised to launch its first fully electric car for the American market. This new EV will pave the way for a broader lineup, including a highly anticipated USD25,000 (roughly RM117,260) EV, which Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares has confirmed will arrive “very soon,.” in the U.S.
Tavares unveiled this upcoming, budget-friendly model during the Bernstein 40th Annual Strategic Decisions Conference on Wednesday. He highlighted that Stellantis, Jeep’s parent company, will leverage its expertise gained from designing the €20,000 Citroën e-C3 (roughly RM101,721) to develop this affordable Jeep EV.
Moreover, the introduction of a USD25,000 electric Jeep will mark the brand’s third EV offering in the United States. This model will follow the Wagoneer S, which targets Grand Cherokee buyers, and the off-road-oriented Recon, set to debut later this year. The new model is expected to feature a boxy design reminiscent of the iconic Wrangler.
While Tavares did not provide extensive details beyond the price point and a general timeframe for the model’s release, the automotive world is abuzz with speculation. Stellantis has several new platforms that could potentially underpin the new EV. Given the inspiration from the Citroën e-C3, it is possible that the new Jeep EV could share components with the e-C3 too.
On top of that, the Citroën e-C3, though not exceedingly powerful, operates on Stellantis’ Smart Car Platform with a 111-horsepower electric motor and boasts a range of up to 199 miles under Europe’s more lenient test cycle. However, whether this specific platform will be utilised for the new Jeep remains uncertain.
For its more robust models, the Wagoneer S and the Recon, Stellantis employs its STLA Large architecture, designed to support larger, more powerful EVs. The strategic use of diverse platforms across Stellantis’ range ensures that each model is optimised for its intended market segment and performance requirements.
As Jeep continues to expand its EV lineup, this new affordable model will play a crucial role in making electric mobility more accessible to a broader audience, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable automotive solutions. So what do you guys think? Will Malaysia also get this Jeep EV and will it still be affordable here given our archaic tax structures?
We got all this from Motor 1 and their full article is linked here. Thank you Motor 1 for the information and images.
