Jeep is investigating adding an SUV positioned below its compact Renegade, the SUV brand’s CEO Mike Manley revealed in an interview published this week. Jeep sub-Renegade SUV onwill not be on sale just in United States.
He said Jeep was looking “very closely” at the vehicle, which if built would be off-limits for the United States because of its diminutive size.
A 3-row SUV designed exclusively for the Chinese market
It wouldn’t be the first Jeep to skip the U.S. The SUV brand just this week revealed a 3-row SUV designed exclusively for the Chinese market. It’s a reflection of Jeep’s further transformation into a global brand.
One possibility would be twinning the baby Jeep with a next-generation Fiat Panda Cross, which is due early next decade. It’s an idea Jeep has been toying with since at least 2009. The hurdle remains ensuring that an inexpensive, pint-sized SUV twinned with the Panda Cross could be capable enough off the road to warrant Jeep branding.
A decision on the vehicle could come in June. The date is when Jeep parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is expected to detail a new 5-year plan.
