Jeep expands into new territories with product offensive

The Jeep brand is on a major product offensive, expanding from three models in 2005 to seven in 2007, the most available to retail consumers at one time in the 65-year history of Jeep vehicles. No other automotive manufacturer in the world has the range of sport-utility vehicles that Jeep offers.

By the end of 2007, the Jeep brand lineup will include Jeep Commander, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee and Wrangler, plus the all-new Compass, Patriot and the four-door Wrangler Unlimited. These vehicles provide the opportunity to grow the Jeep brand by offering a variety of products that will excite current customers and attract new ones.

"The Jeep brand is on a product offensive and will continue to grow with new offerings that leverage Jeep’s legendary 4x4 leadership," said Thomas Hausch, Executive Director – International Sales and Marketing, Chrysler Group. "We are solidifying the Jeep brand’s foundation with the all-new Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, while also stretching the brand to reach new customers in the growing compact SUV segment with Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot."

Jeep Commander

The new Jeep Commander, on sale in the UK from April 2006, is part of the on-going Jeep product offensive in markets outside North America and is featured today at the British International Motor Show in London. The Commander is the first of the Jeep family to offer as standard three-row seating, accommodating up to seven passengers comfortably. This classic, rugged 4x4 offers UK customers a class-leading vehicle with legendary off-road capabilities and on-road refinement.

The Jeep Commander, with its classic, rugged design, features a host of safety systems plus the Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system. The Commander is available in the UK with the 3.0-litre V-6 CRD diesel engine and 5.7-litre V-8 HEMI petrol engine. A choice of two trim levels is available on the 3.0-litre V-6 CRD: Predator and Limited. The 5.7-litre V-8 HEMI comes with the Limited trim only.

Jeep Brand

Jeep, which is one of the most recognised brands in the world, is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2006. In 1941, the Willys-Overland company delivered to the U.S. Army 1,500 light reconnaissance vehicles called the Willys Quad. Improved vehicles were called the MA and MB, but eventually, those vehicles came to be known as the Jeep. More than 368,000 were built for use during World War II.

Over the years, mastery, authenticity, freedom and adventure have become the hallmarks of the Jeep brand and the basis for its SUV leadership worldwide.

Sales of Jeep brand vehicles outside North America rose to 84,019 units in 2005, a 15 percent increase versus 2004. In calendar-year 2005, all three models – Wrangler, Cherokee and Grand Cherokee – posted gains over the prior year.