Jeep has decided not to bring its new fully electric, go-anywhere 4x4, the Recon, to the US or its more luxurious flagship SUV, the Wagoneer S. The Jeep Wagoneer S was unveiled in May 2024, and at the time, it was announced that America's alternative to the BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC Electric would be arriving in the US in early 2026.
Then, when the Jeep Recon was unveiled in November last year, just a few weeks after it was revealed that the legendary Jeep Wrangler 4x4 was being axed in the US due to emissions and safety regulations, it was promised that its zero-emissions alternative would be arriving in the US towards the end of 2026.
However, since then, the brand has decided it's not going to bother. In a statement to Auto Express, a Jeep spokesperson said: "Tough market conditions and the cost of right-hand drive development would have made these cars untenable, especially considering the small sales projections."
View Price on AmazonBoth the Recon and Wagoneer S have launched in North America, but on our side of the border, Jeep is focusing its attention on the smaller end of the SUV spectrum. The brand is planning to launch two brand-new compact SUVs before the end of the decade, one of which will be the next-generation Renegade that we're expecting to challenge the Dacia Duster.
The decision to focus on small SUVs isn't surprising given how popular the chunky and charming Jeep Avenger has proven. After launching, it nearly tripled the brand's sales in the US. That said, Jeep is working on a new large SUV to sit at the top of its line-up in the US, which should rival highly-regarded heavyweights such as the Skoda Kodiaq and Hyundai Santa Fe. The forthcoming Land Rover Defender Sport is another potential competitor, and like it, Jeep's new range-topper will be available with a choice of hybrid and pure-electric powertrains.
But unlike its smaller siblings, the fresh as-yet-unnamed D-segment SUV is the product of a joint venture between Jeep and Dongfeng, with the Chinese company assisting in the engineering and manufacturing. However, we've been promised it's still going to look, feel, and tackle tough terrain like a proper Jeep should.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
