AUTO

$25,000 Jeep EV Coming to the U.S. ‘Very Soon,’ Says Stellantis

June 5, 2024

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said that the company plans to offer a $25,000 all-electric Jeep vehicle in the U.S. “very soon.”
Stellantis recently revealed new details for its upcoming all-electric Wagoneer S, Jeep’s first fully electric vehicle, starting at $70,200.
A $25,000 all-electric Jeep vehicle in the U.S. would be a very welcome addition to the currently small low-cost EV selection, which is slowing EV adoption.

According to CNBC, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said at the end of May that the company plans to offer a $25,000 all-electric Jeep vehicle in the U.S. “very soon.” Few details about the new Jeep battery electric vehicle (BEV) were given, except that it will be priced around $25,000 in the U.S.

Stellantis recently revealed details for its upcoming all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S, Jeep’s first fully electric vehicle. As of this writing, MSRP is listed on the Jeep website as starting at $70,200. It offers an impressive all-electric range of over 300 miles, 600 hp, and makes 0-60 in a blistering 3.4 seconds. The website listed late 2024 as the availability date. It is expected to qualify for the federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

A Lack of Cheap Electric Vehicles Has Slowed EV Adoption in America

EVs available in the U.S. have not seen low-priced options in any real numbers yet. A contender was the 2023 Chevy Bolt. GM plans to release a revamped Bolt in 2025, after deciding not to offer a 2024 model.

More cheap EVs are needed in the U.S. to increase American EV adoption. Available economy EV models have been very few so far, dissuading a huge segment of U.S. drivers from going electric.

Price Parity Isn’t There Yet, But It’s Coming Soon

In Kelley Blue Book’s “The Cheapest New Cars of 2024,” all vehicles listed were under $25,000. All of the cars listed are internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The 2024 Nissan Versa came in as the No. 1 cheapest, at $16,390, as of this writing.

Automotive experts expect BEVs to cost less than ICE vehicles in America soon, as China has already accomplished this milestone, with its BYD Seagull priced under $10K.

Tavares Is Critical of New 100% U.S. Tariffs Against Low Priced Chinese EVs

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares criticized the new 100% tariffs the U.S. placed against Chinese EVs in May. His comments focused on the tariffs making U.S. OEMs less competitive, which has been a consensus among automotive experts.

“Yes, time helps, but you cannot stop the competition,” Tavares said. “Putting you behind a protectionist bubble is not going to help you to be competitive. … If your strategy is to shrink and stay inside of the bubble, it will buy you time, but certainly it will cut your future.”

Stellantis Vehicles

Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation headquartered in Amsterdam. It was formed in 2021 from the merger of the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group.

Stellantis designs, manufactures, and sells automobiles under brands Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, and Vauxhall.

In the U.S., it sells Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and Ram.

Jeep’s Electrified Vehicles

Jeep currently offers plug-in hybrids Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee 4xe, as well as the upcoming Jeep EV Wagoneer S. Jeep says its Wrangler 4xe PHEV is the industry’s first and only open-air SUV. It is available in a variety of trims. Its base model is the Sport S4xe, starting at $49,590 as of this writing.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe is also available in a variety of trims, all available only in four-wheel drive. Its base model is the 4xe, starting at $60,490, as of this writing.

Jeep’s Wartime Birth

Jeep is an American automobile marque, introduced in 1943. Jeep was born when it became clear that the U.S. would enter World War II. American Bantam, Willys-Overland Motors, and Ford worked together to produce the vehicles to be used in the war. Jeep-branded vehicles were built beginning with the 1945 Willys CJ-2A. The Willys name has lived on as a part of the Jeep brand, with one example as the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Willys 4xe.

Jeep has become the premier off-road brand in the U.S. Its vehicles feature hard-top versions as well as open-air, soft top versions. Outdoor adventures are a core part of the brand, which competing all-electric brand Rivian has used as its core mission and identity as well. It will be interesting to see how the coming Jeep EVs compete with Rivian BEVs. The $25,000 Jeep EV will be a very welcome addition to the low-cost BEV lineup in the U.S.