Jeep has been working on a plan to create an SUV that sits below the Renegade in the brand’s global line-up. This new SUV will be the new entry point to the Jeep brand and will be sold in Europe and emerging markets as well.
“A smaller car than the Renegade is very interesting to us and we are actively looking at the project now,” said Jeep CEO Mike Manley. The company could build it on the Renegade platform, which also underpins the Fiat 500X, but its compact dimensions may need a new, lighter platform.
“We’ve seen the general move in Europe towards smaller SUVs, and there could also be a market in Latin America,” added Manley. Jeep could need the small SUV to share platforms with a Fiat model, with the next-generation Panda’s platform being the most likely to make the cut.
The company will reveal its next five-year plan (2018-2023) on June 1, and this will be one of the items in a major FCA business announcement. FCA head Sergio Marchionne will announce five-year plans for the group and each of its brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati and Ram.