There Won't Be A Jeep Wrangler EV
Head of Jeep Brand Bill Peffer says that there’s not going to be a Jeep Wrangler EV because “we can't forget what Jeep is. The Wrangler is what brought us to the table over 80 years ago, some derivative of that. So we protect that, right? That's protecting our core. Lots of very loyal followers [that drive] the Wrangler."
Peffer’s argument against the electric Wrangler is that its customers, and the brand, don’t want to change what the Wrangler is — rugged, utilitarian, and simple. That sounds like Jeep believes its Wrangler buyers just won’t have an appetite for anything more electrified than the 4xe hybrid. Based on Peffer’s conversation with The Drive, Jeep’s argument against an electric Wrangler is also rooted in the upcoming Recon, which will be an off-road-ready electric Jeep.
The Recon will, to be fair, bring some of those Wrangler elements to the electrified take on Jeep. It’ll have removable doors and an off-road attitude, for starters. We can see Jeep checking out how buyers feel about electric off-roading with the Recon. Range continues to be a factor, especially in high-performance environments, and out in the sticks without available charging, it’s easy to see why some buyers may feel limited off-road. Depending on how this plays out with consumers, it’s possible Jeep may revise its stance on an electric Wrangler. That, or the Recon will make the need for one obsolete.
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Chase is an automotive journalist with years of experience in the industry. He writes for outlets like Edmunds and AutoGuide, among many others. When not writing, Chase is in front of the camera over at The Overrun, his YouTube channel run alongside his friend and co-host Jobe Teehan. If he's not writing reviews of the latest in cars or producing industry coverage, Chase is at home in the driver's seat of his own (usually German) sports cars.
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