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Jeep is looking at local manufacturing in India and utilising this base to export to Europe.
Jeep is currently working on this new SUV and it will be based on the SCCS platform.
Our sources confirm that the Fiat Panda 4x4 was imported to study the characteristics and utilise it on the modular SCCS platform.
The Fiat 500L is based on the SCCS platform, but it doesn’t get all-wheel drive in it.
The research and development of this product will be done both in India and Europe.
Jeep brand name will be a strong driving force for sales of compact SUV in India and it will increase its volume in Europe with this B-segment SUV.
Jeep will be introducing the 1.3-litre multijet and mostly even the 1.5-litre/1.6-litre diesel engine on this new SUV.
The bigger diesel engine will possess 4x4 characteristics and will be sold mostly in developed markets.
Jeep will be introducing the Grand Cherokee in the second half of 2015 and Wrangler will be launched in the first half of 2016.
The Jeep’s compact SUV will be made in Fiat’s Ranjangaon plant, and it will be sold in European and Indian markets against the Ford Ecosport.
Ford also has the same strategy as it manufactures the Ecosport in its Chennai facility and exports it to multiple countries.
The Ecosport is sold with 1.0-litre, 1.5-litre and 2.0-litre petrol engines and 1.5-litre diesel engine options.
Recently, Ford had showcased the Ecosport without rear mounted spare wheel as another upcoming variant.