Emission Woes Interrupt Jeep Grand Cherokee Production
It might be time to start worrying about the Jeep Grand Cherokee. It hasn’t been off to a hot start since it was redesigned, and now Stellantis is cutting production. Reportedly, the Jeep Grand Cherokee issue is related to emission regulations.
Why is Jeep Grand Cherokee production being cut?
Reportedly, Stellantis is cutting Jeep Grand Cherokee production due to California emission regulations. One shift will be cut from the Detroit plant where the Grand Cherokee and other Jeep SUV models.
The plant that employs 4,600 workers will be reduced from three shifts to two, and production is being cut by an unspecified amount.
This move was made so Stellantis can manage the sales of their vehicles to comply with California emissions regulations that are measured on a state-by-state basis.
Shipments of gas-powered vehicles to states that have adopted California’s emission standards have been limited. In some cases, vehicles have only been shipped after they have been sold. Stellantis has limited sales of PHEVs and EVs in these states.
Over 3,600 jobs could be at risk due to this production cut. Also, the Wrangler factory in Ohio is moving to two shifts, which could separately impact jobs.
Is the Grand Cherokee electric?
No, the Jeep Grand Cherokee isn’t electric, but an EV model could be added to the lineup soon. It has two gas-powered engines. The standard 3.6-liter unit cranks out 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Upgrade to the 5.7-liter V8 engine for 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.
There’s also the greener Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe to consider. It’s a PHEV or a plug-in electric vehicle. It can run on gas, a blend of gas and electricity, and on electricity alone.
It pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to generate 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It gets an EPA-estimated 56 MPGe with gas and electric power. It has an electric range of 26 miles per charge.
Stellantis is working to void a 2019 California emission regulation with other automakers. Stay tuned for updates on its progress.
