Manoli Katakis 
During the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer media backgrounder last month, brand CEO Christian Meunier briefly touched on how the iconic American SUV brand has the “ability to help others,” and there are currently plans in the works to make this ethos more of a legitimized movement among owners going forward.
“This is still a concept that we’re working on several different avenues,” said Meunier in an interview with MC&T. “I think the values of Jeep work very well with (helping others). I think we have a role to help the communities.”
In other words, there could be a fleet of Jeep Wrangler SUVs ready to respond to a crisis, although the brand CEO stopped short of detailing exactly what we can expect.
“There’s a lot we can do… we have some very good ideas, we’re getting close to nailing it and we have to get it approved by (Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares),” explained Meunier.
Even as these official plans await the green light, many owners already aid and lifted the spirits of their community.
“The Jeep owners do it already,” noted Meunier. “Jeepers getting together to help a little kid recovering from cancer… there are very, very powerful things that they can do today in the United States. And I think the responsibility of a brand like Jeep is to take it to another level. To bring the community to do something for the planet, to do something for communities.”
For example, in Southeast Michigan, a local Jeep group leads a yearly event during the holiday season where their vehicles are decorated with Christmas lights, parade around town, and visit nursing homes. Otherwise, Jeep owners, and especially Jeep Wrangler owners, regularly enjoy the outdoors. Meunier noted that this could possibly tie into what’s in the works.
“We’re working on some projects related to nature. Electrification can be a part of it,” he said. Of note, the American SUV brand recently announced its Wrangler 4xe charging network, focused at or near famous trailheads across the country.
“Our Instagram had images of (Jeepers) towing people out of the snow in Texas (in February),” added Jim Morrison, head of Jeep North America. “The Jeep Community just does that. Driving doctors and nurses to the hospitals. Towing people that had their Honda Civics stuck, the 2WD Fords, their RAV4… people just do that because they have the capability.”
