Jeep is reconsidering plans to launch an electrical Compass in North America. The subsequent-gen Jeep Compass is formally on pause after Stellantis briefly halted operations at its Brampton Meeting Plant, the place the present SUV is constructed, to take a better have a look at its technique in North America.
Is Jeep canceling the electrical Compass within the US?
Stellantis froze all actions on the Brampton plant on Thursday, together with work on the next-gen Jeep Compass. The corporate stated the sudden halt was over “immediately’s dynamic setting.”
In an electronic mail to Ontario newspaper Windsor Star, Stellantis’s head of communications for Canada, Lou Ann Gosselin, stated, “As we navigate immediately’s dynamic setting, Stellantis continues to reassess its product technique in North America.”
Gosselin added that Stellantis’s choice is “to make sure it’s providing clients a spread of automobiles with versatile powertrain choices to greatest meet their wants.”
The pause is non permanent, and the choice is not going to affect operations on the Windsor facility. The Brampton plant has been down since December 2023 for retooling as a part of Stellantis plans to construct EVs, together with an electrical Jeep Compass.
Stellantis confirmed in October that the next-gen Jeep Compass might be accessible with electrical, hybrid, and gas-powered powertrains as a part of its “Freedom of Selection” technique.
The Compass is Jeep’s “most globally accessible mannequin,” based on Gosselin. Later this 12 months, the next-gen mannequin will nonetheless debut in Europe, with manufacturing slated to start in Melfi, Italy. Stellantis beforehand stated manufacturing would develop to North America and world wide.
Stellantis initially deliberate to start constructing the next-gen Jeep Compass, together with an electrical model for North America, within the fourth quarter of 2025. Mass manufacturing was slated for 2026.
Lana Payne, Unfor nationwide president, the union behind staff on the plant, stated the “timing of this announcement raises very severe issues.” Payne added:
The chaos and uncertainty plaguing the North American auto trade, which is beneath the fixed risk of tariffs and a dismantling of EV laws from the US, are having real-time impacts on staff and company choices.
Though Stellantis didn’t point out US President Trump or tariffs as an element, Unifor Native 444 president James Stewart advised the Windsor Star, “There’s little question the Trump administration’s EV insurance policies are having an impact.”
Stewart defined the pause comes as Stellantis reassesses what powertrain choices to supply for the next-gen Compass.
Stellantis nonetheless plans to return to a three-shift operation, aiming to begin operations early subsequent 12 months. The plant was as soon as dwelling to iconic fashions, just like the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300, all of which at the moment are discontinued. The electrical Dodge Charger Daytona is made at its Windsor plant.
Jeep launched its first electrical SUV in North America, the Wagoneer S, final 12 months and can introduce the extra rugged, Wrangler-like Recon EV later this 12 months. As for an electrical Jeep Compass, these of us within the US and Canada should wait to listen to extra.
Electrek’s Take
Stellantis is already struggling in North America. Gross sales fell one other 15% final 12 months to only over 1.3 million, with each model, apart from Fiat, promoting considerably fewer automobiles.
Jeep model gross sales fell 9% within the US, Ram gross sales fell 19%, Dodge gross sales fell 29%, Alfa Romeo gross sales fell 19%, and Chrysler gross sales have been down 7% in 2024.
Though Trump’s tariffs threats are doubtless one of many greatest causes behind Stellantis’s choice, it should doubtless solely put it again additional in the long term. The trade will nonetheless progress towards electrical automobiles, whereas automakers stalling now will get left behind with extra superior, software-driven fashions from China, South Korea, and so on.
Behind the Cherokee and Wrangler, the Compass was Jeep’s third best-selling car within the US final 12 months. Gross sales have been up 16% to almost 111,700, however Jeep will want a solution quickly with new electrical choices hitting the market over the subsequent few years.
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