by Matt Konkle
Managing Editor
The deep throaty rumble of a gasoline engine. That screech of power from hitting the accelerator. These things will soon be memories from the past for those in many major European cities.
At least anyone looking to purchase a new Jeep vehicle.
Jeep parent Stellantis Wednesday announced it plans to end internal combustion engine production throughout most of Europe by the end of this year.
Instead, the automaker will focus efforts on its 4xe Wrangler and Grand Cherokee hybrid models, as well as hybrid Renegade and Compass editions, and its recently announced all-electric Jeepcode-named Project 516.
However, the brand was quick to note this decision does not mean they’ve made the same determination about North American power plants.
"There is enough demand to make a bold move in Europe," said Jeep Brand CEO Christian Meunier. "We're really accelerating the pace, but obviously North America is a few years behind Europe in terms of pure electrification.
"The decision has not been made, because the market is not evolving at the same speed, so we still have a few years to go.”
Currently, Jeep has that hybrid 4xe Wrangler and Grand Cherokee available in North America and while both have moved well, the Wrangler version recently became the top-selling plug-in hybrid in the United States. It also now accounts for over 25 percent of all Wrangler sales.
Overall, though, both models have been hampered by numerous component shortages, including batteries, Meunier said, which has limited production at the automaker’s Toledo, Ohio facility.
"If we could produce more, we could sell more," Meunier said. "I would say the Grand Cherokee is probably going to be at least at the same level, at the same magnitude with 25% of the mix.
"The ramp-up is coming," he said, "so I think we're going to be in much better shape by the end of this year."
Jeep sold nearly 46,000 Wranglers in the first quarter of 2022 and will report second quarter sales in about a month.
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