Zac Quinn 
The transition towards electrification has proven to be an expensive process requiring considerable time spent in everything from supply chain sourcing, to plant renovations, to vehicle research and development. Brands that are making the transition for their product line have set aside billions of dollars for this massive venture. And one of the most significant brands in the electric race is Jeep. While we have the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the Grand Cherokee 4xe will soon be joining it this spring.
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe: Road To The Future
Some may be wondering why we didn’t get the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe sooner, and according to a recent Automotive News interview with Jeep boss Jim Morrison, when it came to the Grand Cherokee, the design and development team needed to take its time to ensure the product would be a true off-roader, despite the additional weight that comes with electrification. Luckily, the Wrangler 4xe was a huge success and helped the brand understand that demand for a PHEV with off-road capabilities is present.
“It took us a little longer time to market with it because it needed to be a real Jeep first. It needed to have really good four-wheel-drive capability because you couldn’t put the Jeep badge on it and have it be a really good plug-in hybrid without being a really good Jeep first.” Morrison explained.
Morrison also stated that the Wrangler 4xe had been a great market research tool that has allowed the company to refine its future electrified products to suit its customer’s needs. He notes that it has attracted younger and more educated clients with a love for the outdoors. He anticipates that the Grand Cherokee 4xe will replicate and expand this buying trend.
“It’s sometimes demographics and sometimes it’s psychographics and attitude. It’s the Jeep thing and the connection to the outdoors. As we look to evolve 4xe technology into 4xe being the next 4×4, what’s natural for us is the instant connection to freedom and adventure,” he added
It seems that no matter if future Jeeps are fully electric or hybrids, they will be engineered to be the best off-road vehicles that they possibly can be.
