Jeep comes to India, finally

Jeep, the 75-year-old iconic brand, was launched by its parent Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) as direct imports for Indian customers, at the starting price of Rs 71.59 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) to tap the surging SUV market in India.

Launching the all-diesel vehicles in Jodhpur today, Kevin Flynn - President and Managing Director, FCA India said, "Jeep pioneered the SUV segment globally and the concept of off-roading across the continents. Now we are providing our Indian customers with access to what Jeep has to offer by launching the Jeep Wrangler, the most capable production 4x4 vehicle in the world and the luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee, the most awarded SUV of all time."

He also announced a locally made five-seater SUV to be launched in the next few months, which is expected to be price competitive and will compete with the likes of Honda CR-V or Mahindra XUV500. "We will add another vehicle to this line-up, an all-new, premium Jeep SUV, when local production starts at the Ranjangaon manufacturing facility, near Pune, next year," said Flynn.

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world, will also retail three variants of the Jeep Grand Cherokee to be sold from Rs 93.64 to Rs 1.12 crore, all ex-showroom Delhi. All these vehicles will be sold through 10 Jeep distribution outlets called Jeep Destination Stores, in nine Indian cities by the end of this year. The first Jeep Destination Store will come up in Ahmedabad in Gujarat followed by New Delhi. Subsequent stores will be operational at Mumbai, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi. These are designed to be premium and have high level of engagement with walk-in customers, prospects and visitors.

The company has invested $280 million in its Ranjangaon facility to mobilise the localisation strategy, which involves the plans to manufacture and roll out an all-new, premium Jeep SUV. "We are aiming for early 2017. This will set a strong foundation for all the aspects that will further strengthen our future in India," said Flynn.

Jeep will offer a two-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer's warranty as standard on all its models. The warranty will have international coverage and will be transferrable to the second owner, too.

The company will add petrol variants in the next few months and will be offering co-branded Jeep merchandise across it outlets.