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JEEP CHEROKEE NAME ‘AN EXPRESSION OF CREATIVE PASSION,’ SAYS STELLANTIS CEO

Carlos Tavares Has Now Weighed In

The Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee names are staying, against the Cherokee Nation's wishes.
Image Via Jeep.

By now you have certainly heard about the ordeal that is currently taking place between Jeep and the Cherokee Nation. Car and Driver made a report at the end of last month in which the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chuck Hoskin, Jr., made it clear that he isn’t a fan of the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee nameplates. More specifically, Hoskin Jr. noted that the nameplates do very little in the way of honoring the members of the largest Native American in the United States. It was then reported that Jeep had no interest in changing the nameplates, and that they’ve “respectfully declined” to do so. That said, the door continues to be open for dialogue. According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares remains open to such a decision.

“We are ready to go to any point, up to the point where we decide with the appropriate people and with no intermediaries.” Tavares said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “ At this stage, I don’t know if there is a real problem. But if there is one, well, of course we will solve it.”

The Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee names are staying, against the Cherokee Nation's wishes.
Image Via Jeep.

The Stellantis CEO would go on to add that he has not personally been involved with any of the conservations surrounding this situation, as Tavares would also state the following: “I don’t see anything that would be negative here. I think it’s just a matter of expressing our creative passion, our artistic capabilities.”

These sentiments should sound familiar to those who read the automaker’s previous comments about the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee nameplates. More specifically, the automaker noted in a written statement that the model names were chosen to “honor and celebrate Native American people for their nobility, prowess, and pride.”

Jeep has refused other publications requests for further comments on the matter, simply stating that they have nothing more to add at this time. That isn’t all that surprising, as there is likely some meetings scheduled to take place over at Stellantis. Whether or not something actually comes of this whole ordeal, we already know that Hoskin Jr. never intended for this to be a public issue. Regardless, it is clear that the conversation surrounding the Jeep Cherokee and Grand Cherokee nameplates isn’t quite over yet.

The 2021 WL Jeep Grand Cherokee L Pricing has been announced as the SUV nears its sales debut.
Image Via Jeep.
The Cherokee Nation is asking Jeep to remove their name from the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee models.
Image Via Jeep.

Written by Lucas Bell

Lucas holds a journalism degree from Wayne State University, and is a Automotive Press Association scholarship recipient. While an American muscle fan through and through, he once wrote a fascinating comparison review about eScooters.

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