Stellantis plans to launch a Jeep sport utility vehicle (SUV) built in China for Europe by the end of the decade through its manufacturing partnership with Dongfeng Motor.
The large SUV will be made by Stellantis and Dongfeng at Dongfeng’s Wuhan plant in China, according to Fabio Catone, head of Jeep’s operations in Europe, in comments to Bloomberg.
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It will arrive alongside several other new Jeep vehicles, expanding the brand’s European line-up to six models by 2030 from two currently.
Separately, Stellantis and Dongfeng are creating another arrangement that will allow Dongfeng to manufacture its own vehicles at a Stellantis plant in France.
Responding to Bloomberg’s question on whether a China-built model could deter customers, Catone said: “Jeep is a US brand, certainly, but it’s also a global one. We are super satisfied with what we are seeing take shape. It’s a real Jeep on all counts.”
The move continues closer ties between Stellantis and Dongfeng under CEO Antonio Filosa, differing from the position of former CEO Carlos Tavares, who had raised the possibility in 2022 of Stellantis exiting manufacturing in China.
Stellantis is also extending its work with Leapmotor, as Western carmakers make greater use of Chinese manufacturing capacity, technology and supply networks.
Jeep is one of four Stellantis brands identified for priority investment, together with Ram, Peugeot and Fiat, and is seen as the group’s only brand with global reach.
Since 2023, Stellantis has sold close to 280,000 Jeep Avenger units in Europe.
The Jeep Compass also remains available in the region, and a fully electric Recon model is due next year.
Catone also said Stellantis will not return the Wrangler to the European market after the model was previously removed because of strict emissions rules.
The latest announcement comes after news last month that Stellantis would build electric vehicles for Dongfeng’s premium Voyah brand at its Rennes factory in France as part of a broader joint venture between the two groups in Europe.
