With its new plug-in powertrains and upcoming electric SUV, Jeep is evolving in today’s quickly electrifying auto market. The way people buy Jeeps is changing, too. To help capitalize on its new products and build a stronger identity, company CEO Christian Meunier told Automotive News that more than 300 dealerships would add dedicated Jeep showrooms in the next two years. The automaker has a new electric crossover coming next year, and its product line is expanding, so Meunier feels the time is right to separate the brand at the retail level.
Dealers, who are ultimately on the hook for the success of a standalone Jeep store, are understandably skeptical. Some aren’t on board with spending the cash on upgrading their stores, and others are having trouble seeing what’s ahead. “Some don’t realize the potential that exists,” Meunier told Automotive News.
