Jeep is reconsidering plans to launch an electrical Compass in North America. The subsequent-gen Jeep Compass is formally on pause after Stellantis briefly halted operations at its Brampton Meeting Plant, the place the present SUV is constructed, to take a more in-depth take a look at its technique in North America.
Is Jeep canceling the electrical Compass within the US?
Stellantis froze all actions on the Brampton plant on Thursday, together with work on the next-gen Jeep Compass. The corporate stated the sudden halt was over “at present’s dynamic atmosphere.”
In an electronic mail to Ontario newspaper Windsor Star, Stellantis’s head of communications for Canada, Lou Ann Gosselin, stated, “As we navigate at present’s dynamic atmosphere, Stellantis continues to reassess its product technique in North America.”
Gosselin added that Stellantis’s resolution is “to make sure it’s providing clients a variety of autos with versatile powertrain choices to greatest meet their wants.”
The pause is non permanent, and the choice won’t influence operations on the Windsor facility. The Brampton plant has been down since December 2023 for retooling as a part of Stellantis plans to construct EVs, together with an electrical Jeep Compass.
Stellantis confirmed in October that the next-gen Jeep Compass will likely be obtainable with electrical, hybrid, and gas-powered powertrains as a part of its “Freedom of Selection” technique.
The Compass is Jeep’s “most globally obtainable mannequin,” in keeping with Gosselin. Later this yr, the next-gen mannequin will nonetheless debut in Europe, with manufacturing slated to start in Melfi, Italy. Stellantis beforehand stated manufacturing would broaden to North America and all over the world.
Stellantis initially deliberate to start constructing the next-gen Jeep Compass, together with an electrical model for North America, within the fourth quarter of 2025. Mass manufacturing was slated for 2026.
Lana Payne, Unfor nationwide president, the union behind staff on the plant, stated the “timing of this announcement raises very severe considerations.” Payne added:
The chaos and uncertainty plaguing the North American auto business, which is below the fixed risk of tariffs and a dismantling of EV rules from the US, are having real-time impacts on staff and company selections.
Though Stellantis didn’t point out US President Trump or tariffs as an element, Unifor Native 444 president James Stewart informed the Windsor Star, “There’s little question the Trump administration’s EV insurance policies are having an impact.”
Stewart defined the pause comes as Stellantis reassesses what powertrain choices to supply for the next-gen Compass.
Stellantis nonetheless plans to return to a three-shift operation, aiming to start out operations early subsequent yr. The plant was as soon as residence to iconic fashions, just like the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300, all of which at the moment are discontinued. The electrical Dodge Charger Daytona is made at its Windsor plant.
Jeep launched its first electrical SUV in North America, the Wagoneer S, final yr and can introduce the extra rugged, Wrangler-like Recon EV later this yr. As for an electrical Jeep Compass, these of us within the US and Canada must wait to listen to extra.
Electrek’s Take
Stellantis is already struggling in North America. Gross sales fell one other 15% final yr to only over 1.3 million, with each model, apart from Fiat, promoting considerably fewer autos.
Jeep model gross sales fell 9% within the US, Ram gross sales fell 19%, Dodge gross sales fell 29%, Alfa Romeo gross sales fell 19%, and Chrysler gross sales have been down 7% in 2024.
Though Trump’s tariffs threats are possible one of many greatest causes behind Stellantis’s resolution, it is going to possible solely put it again additional in the long term. The business will nonetheless progress towards electrical autos, whereas automakers stalling now will get left behind with extra superior, software-driven fashions from China, South Korea, and so forth.
Behind the Cherokee and Wrangler, the Compass was Jeep’s third best-selling car within the US final yr. Gross sales have been up 16% to almost 111,700, however Jeep will want a solution quickly with new electrical choices hitting the market over the subsequent few years.
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