Jeep brand eyes doubling sales, increasing localisation

Jeep, part of Stellantis, is aiming to double sales volume to 1,200 units/month & increase local sourcing to 90%. It has made Jeep Compass auto affordable & plans to increase sales of Wrangler & Grand Cherokee through localisation & awareness. Exports to 17 countries being explored.

The Jeep brand which directly entered the Indian market in 2016 followed by the introduction of “Made in India” Jeep Compass the next year, has embarked on the next phase of growth to make a lasting impact in the country.

The American iconic SUV brand which is now part of Stellantis, has chalked out a strategy to double sales volume to about 1,200 units a month by the next quarter and increase local sourcing of components to over 90% from about 70% now, to make products affordable, a top executive said.

“Jeep is here to stay. One thing we are focusing is the need to think globally and act locally. So, localisation is a key element of this. We are planning upto 90% localisation in India,” said Aditya Jairaj, Deputy Managing Director and Head Jeep Brand Operations, Stellantis India Private Ltd in an interview.

Mr Jairaj was recently recruited by the Stellantis from Nissan in the US where he was global head of electrification, to drive growth.

The company which is selling on an average of 500 to 600 units of Jeep in the last six months, has made Jeep Compass automatic affordable by Rs 6 lakh to increase its presence in the compact SUV segment by four times. 

The Jeep Meridian will shortly come with a new variant called Meridian Overland to appeal its ‘differentiated customers’.

Similarly plans are afloat to increase the sales of Jeep Wrangler priced upwards of Rs 60 lakh and Jeep Grand Cherokee priced at Rs 80.5 lakh through localisation and by creating awareness about the brand and the products available in the market.