Indian Launch of Jeep Delayed to Next Year 2014

Last December 2012, Fiat, in an official press meet, announced the incoming of Jeep brand in India by the end of this year of 2013. Things looked settled and on path till the middle of the year with regular spyshots and drive reports of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler, the two planned launches for the year, making way consistently. However, we are exactly in the last month of the year and there is no update on its launch in India.

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This Cherokee is expected to be Jeep’s C-segment SUV in India

And now, in a report at Business Standard, it gets cleared that Jeep’s launch has been postponed to next year. The reasons attributed to the delay are – volatile and steep INR-USD exchange rates along with damp car buying sentiments. The Jeeps, when launched, would be priced around Rs 30 Lakhs for the Wrangler and around Rs 35-40 Lakh for the Grand Cherokee, since they will be direct imports (CBUs) for now.

And, hence, it would be difficult for Jeep to justify the premium price tags considering you get competent and established luxury brands at those prices.

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This is the Wrangler one of our reader spied in India. Click pic for details

There is also a question mark on whether Jeep will be bringing the 2013 or the 2014 version of the Grand Cherokee to India. We expect them to showcase their vehicles at the upcoming Auto Expo and launch them thereafter. The more interesting bit here is that Jeep also intends to bring a B-segment SUV to our markets apart from another C-segment SUV!

Good times lie ahead for you SUV lovers with the iconic Jeep making it with their big daddy SUVs.

Further Reading on Jeep India

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