Jeep Meridian and Jeep Grand Cherokee to lead the brand’s 2022 product offensive in India
The Jeep® brand continues to climb to new heights in India, confirming the introduction of two all-new, made-in-India 4×4 vehicles this year and also the return of Jeep Compass Trailhawk. This is another step towards the strengthening of the brand in the Indian market that, by the end of 2022, will offer a portfolio of four nameplates, all of which will be locally produced or assembled.
Roland Bouchara, CEO & Managing Director, Stellantis India, said, “Jeep is an iconic brand, globally recognized for its capable SUVs and the brand is on a great journey in India. India is a major part of our global strategy and we intend to achieve a high level of localization for our products, to make them more accessible to our customers while maintaining an uncompromising vision on our core Jeep DNA. Our product offensive for 2022 and beyond will continue to illustrate our commitment to India as we work towards strengthening our market presence and offer unmatched experiences to our customers.”
Nipun J Mahajan, Head of Jeep Brand – India said, “2022 will be an action-packed year for the Jeep brand, continuing to execute our commitment to deliver more made-in-India vehicles in the market. We are laser focused on delighting our customers, not only through a unique Jeep experience, but also by continuing to make Jeep a more accessible premium SUV brand to Indians than ever before. We believe this local product strategy lives up to that.”
In 2021, Jeep launched the all-new Jeep Compass coupled with the locally assembled Wrangler for the first time. Following the success of the new product, Jeep posted 130% growth in India compared with 2020 and delivered a best-ever sales record for Wrangler in the market since its 2016 introduction.
Jeep Meridian – an all-new 3-row SUV developed specifically for the Indian market
Jeep Meridian, the brand’s first mid-size 3-row SUV in India, will offer a unique alternative in the segment to Indian customers, by providing a seven-passenger vehicle packed with core Jeep DNA. Meridian will deliver legendary Jeep off-road capability, superior on-road driving dynamics, premium interiors and a full array of connected features. Manufactured in India, with over 80 percent local componentry, this vehicle will carve out its own niche in the premium SUV segment. Production of the Meridian will commence in May at the Ranjangaon joint venture manufacturing facility in Pune. A nod to the importance of the market, the Meridian nameplate was thoughtfully chosen for India and recently announced through the bold marketing campaign: Kashmir to Kanyakumari. Through this campaign, the unique Meridian name is explained as a result of a legendary journey down the length of India, crossing each state that falls on the Meridian77o east.
The Jeep Meridian is truly an SUV that consumers will aspire to driving with a lot of passion, excitement and confidence. The ‘Made in India’ Jeep Meridian is the first 3-row SUV for Indian customers and fulfils an important commitment to the Indian market. It will also be the first in its segment to have independent front and rear suspension and best-in-class acceleration due to superior engineering that optimizes its power-to-weight ratio. The Jeep Meridian will be offered in three powertrains and two trims offered in diesel only. The Meridian will deliver on everything that truly represents the Jeep brand, emblematic of its DNA and a product delivering sophistication with the heart of an adventure-seeking persona. The Meridian is spacious, premium and comfortable while encapsulating the core DNA of the Jeep brand, an innate need to travel and make new adventures possible.
All-New Made-in-India Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep brand’s made-in-India product line continues with the arrival of the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep brand’s luxury flagship will launch in India with an all-new architecture, all-new exterior design and all-new interior boasting world-class craftsmanship and state-of-the-art technology. For the Indian market, the vehicle will come equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol powertrain, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The state-of-the-art Jeep Grand Cherokee offers a perfect balance of sophistication and capability. It is equipped with the legendary Quadra-Trac I 4×4 system and Selec-Terrain™ traction management system that together deliver superior, unrivalled 4×4 capability with composed on-road dynamics.
The driver has access to four driving modes – Auto, Sport, Mud/Sand, and Snow. Inside, customers are treated to a plush and spacious leather interior with exclusive features such as co-passenger interactive screen, Head Up Display (HUD), power lift gate, ventilated seats and a panoramic sunroof. India is the only market in the world outside North America where the all-new Grand Cherokee is locally assembled.
Jeep Compass Trailhawk returns to India
The new Jeep Compass Trailhawk returns to the Indian market this year to the delight of off-road enthusiasts. The ultimate expression of capability, the Compass Trailhawk launches with distinctive exterior styling coupled with two Jeep 4×4 systems and Selec-Terrain traction management systems, continuing the tradition of legendary off-road credentials.
Trailhawk provides best-in-class Trail Rated 4×4 capability with:
- Standard Jeep Active Drive Low 4×4 20:1 crawl ratio
- Factory lift suspension, standard four metallic skid plates and a Jeep signature red rear tow hook.
- 30-degree approach angle, 24-degree breakover angle and 34-degree departure angle
- Hill-descent Control
- Up to 19 inches of water fording
- Up to 1500 kg towing capability
The modern, spacious interior of the Compass features a number of upgrades versus the previous generation including: double the storage, a new 10.1-inch Uconnect 5 center stack display and new 10.25-inch frameless full-color thin-film transistor (TFT) digital cluster available for the first time on Compass.
The new Jeep Compass Trailhawk arrives in dealerships by the first week of March.