FCA Says Jeep Will Become A Global Giant - Is This A Real Possibility?

While automakers around the world covet Jeep for its strong growth and fat profits, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles sees potential for much more, banking on the rugged brand to vie with global giants like Toyota, Volkswagen and Ford.

FCA is forecasting Jeep’s annual sales to jump about 30 percent next year to 2 million vehicles and predicts the brand could eventually deliver 7 million units a year as appetite for SUVs surges worldwide, CEO Sergio Marchionne has told analysts. That would continue impressive growth for what was once a niche offroad brand, with little more than 300,000 deliveries in 2009, when Fiat took control of Jeep as part of its acquisition of Chrysler.

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MDarringer - 8/24/2017 8:23:07 AM

0 Boost

Sergio is getting ready to sell, so he is puffing up. A 30% sales jump in one year can happen, but it begs the question whether it is sustainable. It also begs the question as to how this will happen in a market that most analysts say will contract a bit over the next few years.

7 million units a year just for Jeep? The ONLY way that would happen would be to have whoever buys Jeep/Ram/Dodge/Chrysler to name the company "Jeep" and pump out some convincing mainstream product.

Sergio does really good drugs. He and Elon Musk need to have a bedtime love fest and revel in just how idiotic they sound. I'm imagining Sergio as a whiny bottom.

TomM - 8/24/2017 10:01:34 AM

+1 Boost

Well - the renaming everything to Jeep is obviously part of the plan. AND since Jeeps are not reliable appliances - there will be lots who only lease - and get a new one every 3 years - so they stay under warranty. So - Yes - I guess that Pontiac could become a global brand (OOPS - maybe Jeep) - but Not Under FCA though. IT would have to be renamed to the JEEP company.

carloslassiter - 8/24/2017 8:59:46 AM

+1 Boost

Therapy. Definitely therapy.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 8/24/2017 11:02:13 AM

+1 Boost

It really depends on where the 2M units are coming from currently. If none are sold in Europe, Russia, South America or China, the sky is the limit. 7M may be a stretch but certainly 4M is possible. But yes some pre-sale puffery is expected.

TheSteve - 8/24/2017 12:55:38 PM

+1 Boost

I don't believe there are enough product-buying Jeep fans to push the brand past Toyota, VW, or Ford. It's a pure numbers game.

dumpsty - 8/24/2017 2:02:37 PM

+1 Boost

If FCA pushes Jeep to sell a vehicle in just about every size category, maybe their annual sales rate with jump. To increase by 30%....idkat.

If Jeep were to release a version of the Durango, Journey & then do rugged versions of the Dart, Charger...they could possible have the volume. But if they keep coming with wonky-azz designs like with the Cherokee, there's no way it's happen.

And who'd want Jeep brand w/o Dodge anyway? Looking how the industry has evolved recently, it would be acceptable for Jeep to have a Dodge-based vehicle in its lineup & for Dodge to use something from Jeep. ...Chrysler...get a clue!

dumpsty - 8/24/2017 2:05:59 PM

+1 Boost

Look at Land Rover...they revised the Discovery, updated the Evoque, introduced the Velar. All with varying "soft roader" capabilities b/c the typical consumer aint worried about trails & streams.

skytop - 8/24/2017 9:09:03 PM

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With Europe outlawing gasoline engine cars, and extreme fuel mileage requirements being imposed, the heavy, gas hog Wrangler will never survive.