Economy
Related: About this forumJeep prices have gone through the roof. Buyers are bailing and dealers are furious
By Chris Isidore, CNN
5 minute read
Updated 10:58 AM EST, Thu November 21, 2024
Weak sales of the Jeep Gladiator have led Stellantis to cut one of two shifts at the Toledo factory that makes the pickup. David Zalubowski/AP/File
New York (CNN) The Jeep Gladiator was unveiled to great fanfare by then-owner Fiat Chrysler in 2018, the first pickup model for the hot brand in more than a quarter of a century. And at first it seemed like it might live up to the hype. ... After rolling out in 2019, sales doubled in 2020, reaching nearly 90,000 in the US despite pandemic-induced production issues and making it one of the few winners that troubled year. ... But the success was short-lived.
After Fiat Chryslers merger with PSA Group in early 2021 created Stellantis, the company began focusing on higher-priced, higher-margin vehicles, using limited supplies of parts such as computer chips to build the pricier versions of its vehicles. That left many traditional Jeep and other Fiat Chrysler buyers looking elsewhere. ... A search of Jeeps site shows only a few Gladiators with a sticker price below $40,000 nationwide, none for less than $39,790. Sticker prices for some Gladiators on dealer lots now go as high as $72,000.
Gladiator sales have fallen steadily from the 2020 peak as a result and are down another 21% so far this year. Jeep overall has become a shell of its former self, with sales down 36% from before the pandemic. Stellantis managed to turn off customers to what was one of the hottest and most desirable brands by jacking up prices and mismanaging its lineup.
The problems at Stellantis are not limited to Gladiator or even to Jeep. The Ram truck brand has also struggled to keep up with truck offerings from General Motors and Ford. Dodge has cut some of its popular models in anticipation of electric versions. Chrysler, once the companys core brand, is essentially down to one model, the Pacifica minivan, arguably the weakest segment of the US market.
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louis-t
(23,738 posts)when people finally say "I'm not paying that", the prices will come down.
getagrip_already
(17,498 posts)Most parts and assemblies are imported. So is steel, rubber, wire, and tooling.
The supply chain snakes around the globe.
And tarrifs are just going to ratchet up costs. Breaking unions to get cheap labor wont help. Labor will still be cheaper overseas.
Only musk will get away with tarrif relief. Oh, and russian importers i suppose. But that wont really help us auto makers, or us consumers.
Fools.
I actually saw some poor fool of a youtube claim tsf would save jeep. Not bloody likely. His mismanagement csused a lot of the supply chain pain. He will cause more with tarrifs and budget chaos.
louis-t
(23,738 posts)"bring down the price of gas and food!!!11!!11" Just had a conversation with someone in FL 10 min ago. She started into "next year things are going to get better because right now the economy is so bad...." I let her have it with (I have to be careful, I do business with these people) Matt Gaetz backed out because he paid hookers and had sex with a 17-year-old....He's picking the worst cabinet, half of them have sexual assault charges...Of course, she "doesn't know anything about Matt Gaetz" (remember, she lives in FL). Then she gave me a both-siderism.
Skittles
(159,942 posts)I don't CARE if I can afford it, there are some prices I WILL NOT PAY
berksdem
(709 posts)and will never buy another. Nothing but a money pit...
sdfernando
(5,398 posts)was actually happy with it for a time...but that quickly changed once a multitude of expensive repairs started. Glad I was able to sell it for a good price and get out.
bottomofthehill
(8,852 posts)They suck.
Expensive to maintain, breaking down pieces of shit.