The primary Jeep mannequin constructed on a PSA Group platform as a part of the merger with Fiat Chrysler Vehicles that shaped Stellantis will begin manufacturing in July 2022 in Tychy, Poland, sources with information of the matter advised Automotive Information Europe.
The small SUV, which is predicated on the Compact Modular Platform (CMP), will use engines developed by PSA, the sources stated.
The brand new Jeep will probably be adopted by two different fashions from former FCA manufacturers, a small Alfa Romeo crossover in January 2023 and a small Fiat in July 2023, the sources stated. FCA stated in December that the brand new fashions, which it didn’t title, would even have full-electric energy. Gross sales typically begin about three months after manufacturing begins.
A serious purpose behind the merger between PSA and FCA, accomplished final month, was the potential for billions in synergies among the many two teams’ manufacturers, particularly in Europe. The CMP structure underpins half a dozen autos from manufacturers from the previous PSA, together with the Peugeot 208 and Opel/Vauxhall Corsa small automobiles, the Citroen C4 compact, and the DS 3 Crossback, Peugeot 2008 and Opel/Vauxhall Mokka small crossovers.
These fashions have each full-electric and inside combustion drivetrains.
FCA has advised suppliers that manufacturing of CMP-based autos in Tychy might attain 400,000 yearly. The FCA manufacturing facility, which now builds the Fiat 500 minicar and Lancia Ypsilon small automobile, assembled 263,176 autos in 2019, far beneath its excessive of 606,000 in 2009.
FCA stated in late December that it was investing 170 million euros ($204 million) to modernize the plant for the three fashions, though it didn’t present specifics concerning the autos or a manufacturing timetable.
Stellantis can even profit from widespread buying, however till FCA and PSA departments are totally built-in, procurement for the three CMP fashions at Tychy will probably be divided between PSA for platform and powertrain parts, and FCA for models-specific components and supplies, sources advised Automotive Information Europe.
A small Jeep mannequin was first talked about in June 2018 in a marketing strategy from Mike Manley, the model’s CEO on the time and later CEO of FCA (and now head of Americas area at Stellantis). That automobile was described as an “city utility automobile” and labeled within the small/minicar section.
In response to provider sources, the small Jeep on the CMP platform might provide a four-wheel-drive model with an electrical motor powering the rear axle. That resolution is already used on the bigger Jeep Renegade and Compass plug-in hybrids, in addition to fashions from Peugeot and DS, such because the Peugeot 3008, DS 7 Crossback and Peugeot 508 Sport Engineered.
A small Alfa Romeo crossover would slot below the approaching Tonale compact crossover (to be constructed on a model of the FCA platform used within the Jeep Renegade and Compass) and current Stelvio midsize SUV. In response to Italian information studies, it may very well be referred to as the Brennero, which like Stelvio and Tonale is the title of an Italian mountain move.
No particulars have emerged concerning the Fiat-badged CMP mannequin. The model has not had a small car in its lineup since 2018, when manufacturing of the Punto hatchback was discontinued.
Fiat now builds the 500X small crossover alongside the Jeep Renegade within the Melfi plant in southern Italy and the 500L small minivan in its plant in Serbia. In response to JATO Dynamics, gross sales of the 500X fell 35 % in 2020 to 58,467; gross sales of the 500L dropped by 40 % to 21,825.
Fiat confirmed a small electrical automobile idea called Centoventi (Italian for “120”) in March 2019 on the Geneva auto present.
Manley stated in October 2019 that FCA would exit the minicar section, though the Fiat Panda and 500 fashions dominate section gross sales in Europe, in favor of small autos. “Within the very close to future, you will note us refocus on this higher-volume, higher-margin section,” he stated.