{"id":134810,"date":"2023-09-27T06:39:21","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T06:39:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finbestnews.com\/?p=134810"},"modified":"2023-09-27T06:39:21","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T06:39:21","slug":"jeep-to-drive-petrol-options-for-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finbestnews.com\/business\/jeep-to-drive-petrol-options-for-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Jeep To Drive Petrol Options For India"},"content":{"rendered":"
The iconic brand is considering petrol powertrains for its entire Indian portfolio, which includes the Jeep Compass, Meridian, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Jeep India is looking to double its monthly sales to 1,000 units, riding on the new affordable versions of its existing portfolio.<\/p>\n The iconic brand, now part of the Stellantis Group, is also considering having petrol powertrains for its entire Indian portfolio, which includes the Jeep Compass, Meridian, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler.<\/p>\n India is the only country outside North America where Jeep makes four models locally, and also exports to other right-hand-drive markets around the world.<\/p>\n Aditya Jairaj, head of Jeep India Operations and Deputy Managing Director, Stellantis India, said the shift from diesel to petrol is taking place due to regulations and consequent customer preferences.<\/p>\n The company is considering bringing in petrol engines for the entire Jeep portfolio in India, he added.<\/p>\n While Jairaj did not wish to share timelines, he said these engines would be made locally.<\/p>\n At the moment, the Jeep Cherokee and Wrangler have petrol options.<\/p>\n “We are evaluating petrol powertrains for the rest of the portfolio as well. We have to build locally to stay competitive,” Jairaj said.<\/p>\n Stellantis has several powertrains globally, and one of them could be considered for India.<\/p>\n Tata Harrier and the MG Hector use the diesel Jeep engines made here.<\/p>\n Tata has already indicated that they are bringing a petrol and an electric Harrier, one of its popular SUVs.<\/p>\n Stellantis has indicated earlier that it is considering re-introducing Fiat in the Indian market.<\/p>\n Its brands include Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, and Ram Vauxhall.<\/p>\n Jeep India has launched the Jeep Compass 4X2, starting from Rs 20.49 lakh, and the automatic range from Rs 23.99 lakh ex-showroom.<\/p>\n The revised Jeep line-up makes the automatic transmission on Compass more affordable by about 20 per cent (or Rs 6 lakh).<\/p>\n The sales of the Jeep Compass have been going downhill in the last few months, selling less than 300 units every month.<\/p>\n The entire Jeep range has been selling about 500 units on a monthly basis.<\/p>\n Jairaj told Business Standard<\/em> that “With this launch, we are increasing the coverage of the C- SUV segment in India in terms of transaction price and drivetrains.”<\/p>\n From 10 per cent coverage now, Jairaj said their segment coverage in C-SUV would increase to 40 per cent.<\/p>\n The C segment SUVs in India include the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara, the MG Astor, Tata Harrier, Hyundai Alcazar and Mahindra Scorpio.<\/p>\n By making the Jeep Compass more affordable and offering more drivetrains at affordable price points, Jeep is increasing the number of customers it reaches out to.<\/p>\n Jairaj admitted that the overall sales numbers had come down. But now they expected the run-rate to increase to 1,000 units a month from the next quarter.<\/p>\n Jeep is also bringing in special editions like the BlackShark for the Compass and the Overland for the Meridian to boost sales.<\/p>\n The company has planned its production at Ranjangaon plant, which makes around 25,000 cars annually, for India and export markets.<\/p>\n