New Wrangler Pickup, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer Announced
Billion-Dollar Plant Investment Will Help Produce New Wagoneer Models and a Wrangler Pickup
Jeep enthusiasts rejoice! FCA has confirmed plans to build the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer nameplates. They will slot in the ultra-luxury SUV segment, above the Grand Cherokee.
The confirmation comes from a plant investment announcement to increase production capacities at two of FCA’s U.S.-based plants. A pickup truck will also be produced, likely sharing the Wrangler platform. No other vehicle details have been revealed, just a timeline indicating that the renovations and re-tooling are set to be complete by 2020.
For those who build Jeeps, this comes as good news. Re-tooling of the Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan will see production of the Wagoneer models. And modernizing of the Toledo plants will make room for the production of the pickup. A total of 2,000 additional jobs will be created by the investment, as well.
The investment comes on the heels of Ford nixing its own investment plans for Mexico, re-routing those plant investments back to Michigan. Despite potential backlash from the Trump administration, FCA has said it will still be producing the RAM heavy-duty line south of the border.
Production could move States-side, however. The Warren Truck plant could potentially produce those trucks. Demand in the U.S. for trucks and SUVs is now quite high, and CEO Sergio Marchionne says the investments will help match an increasing market.
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Via [CNBC]
