Jeep News: Rumorpile: FCA Considers Allowing Dealers To Open Satellite Centers for Jeep

[William Maley]

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles knows Jeep is one of the hottest selling brands in the U.S. and they have been thinking about ways to exploit that further. According to Automotive News, one possible way the company is thinking about is to allow dealers to open satellite centers for the Jeep brand.

 

According to a source, this move mirrors an effort by FCA where they encourage dealers in truck-heavy marketplaces to open up satellite stores for their Ram Trucks brand. This allows dealers to create a storefront that can cater to truck buyers with a lot filled with a number of trims and configurations of trucks, and truck specialists to help buyers. By doing this for Jeep, it could help differentiate the brand from the other brands. This is a key point as Jeep is readying to launch a $100,000+ Grand Wagoneer in 2019 according to a source.

 

Al Gardner, FCA's head of network development said in a intervicew that satellite centers for Jeep has been disscused and are under consideration.

 

"Would I consider doing Jeep as a stand-alone, same structure, same business unit, same entity? Maybe. By the way, I think a whole bunch of dealers would consider it too," Gardner said. "But it doesn't mean that we're going to go out and do it, and it sure as hell doesn't mean that we're going to go out and add Jeep stores."

 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[David]

So is the Grand Wagoneer supposed to compete against the Escalade, Land Rover, etc?

[ocnblu]

Srsly?  A $100k Jeep product?  Poppycock!

[oldshurst442]

I like this idea.

This is definitely one way to exploit the Jeep name even further.

I hope they dont go too far with the marketing stuff...like Ferrari has...or Star Wars. I mean, I LOOOOOOVE Star Wars, but just as I was on a Star Wars kick last week, Im about ready to puke with Stars Wars merchandising this week.

 

 

OH...we are going to see the Episode 7 next week.

 

 

About a $100 000 Grand Wagoneer....it IS the ORIGINAL luxury SUV afterall...

 

I have no probs with a $100 000 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. In fact, Im elated about it...

SUVs is an American thing. Although I hate SUVs in general, why should the likes of Rolls Royce, Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes,  Lexus all get to produce mega priced SUVs to profit from this seemingly never ending SUV craze and NOT an American car company?

 

Dont give me the FCA thing and say Jeep aint American...Ill flip my lid...

[William Maley]

So is the Grand Wagoneer supposed to compete against the Escalade, Land Rover, etc?

 

Yes

[David]

Cool, this should be very interesting to see what they do in comparison to the Escalade. Wonder if they will have a Normal Wagoneer and a Wagoneer XL to compete against the Escalade ESV?

[Drew Dowdell]

Escalade just barely tickles $100k... if you buy an ESV Platinum.

 

The Grand Wagoneer will need to start in the $50k range (base price of the Yukon XL is $51,260) and then maybe option up to $100k for the PHEV Summit Extended length. 

[David]

Escalade just barely tickles $100k... if you buy an ESV Platinum.

 

The Grand Wagoneer will need to start in the $50k range (base price of the Yukon XL is $51,260) and then maybe option up to $100k for the PHEV Summit Extended length. 

 

Yup you are right, by the time I built my ESV Platinum the way I wanted I hit $100,972 which includes $5,027 worth of options Plus sales tax which here in Washington is 10%.

 

[Drew Dowdell]

When do you take delivery?