New Jeep Cherokee set to guide Stellantis’ U.S. gross sales turnaround

LOS ANGELES – Stellantis is relying on the return of the Jeep Cherokee to assist lead a U.S. turnaround for the SUV model and embattled automaker.

The Cherokee returns after a three-year hiatus, rejoining the compact and midsize automobile markets, which symbolize the most important segments within the U.S. It additionally marks Jeep’s first conventional hybrid mannequin and its most fuel-efficient, gas-powered automobile ever within the U.S.

“It is a important automobile for us,” Richard Cox, Jeep senior vp of name operations, advised CNBC throughout a media occasion for the 2026 Cherokee. “I believe this expands our attain with this stage of powertrain, with this stage of gas effectivity and functionality.”

The automobile is at the moment arriving in U.S. dealerships as arguably a very powerful U.S. launch for the automaker this yr. Stellantis is making an attempt to regain market share after vital losses lately.

The automaker has set a goal to extend retail gross sales by roughly 25% in 2026 to 1.15 million autos, pushed by up to date and new fashions in addition to pricing and product realignments to maneuver autos off supplier heaps.

“It is an enormous a part of our progress,” Cox stated relating to the brand new Cherokee. “It positions us properly in ’26.”

Final yr, Jeep narrowly reported its first annual gross sales improve – up lower than 1% – since 2018, when the model achieved gross sales of greater than 973,200 items. That compares with gross sales of 593,401 Jeeps in 2025, a 39% decline over the seven-year interval.

The 1% annual gross sales progress for Jeep wasn’t sufficient to raise Stellantis’ general U.S. gross sales into the black for the yr, although. The guardian firm reported a 3% decline in U.S. gross sales in 2025 – marking its seventh consecutive fall amid a failed push into all-electric autos and vital price slicing and value will increase underneath former CEO Carlos Tavares.

Sean Hogan, a Los Angeles-area supplier who’s main Stellantis’ franchised nationwide supplier council, believes the 25% goal improve in U.S. gross sales is achievable with the corporate’s new management and product slate.

“We have been lacking Cherokee. It is large to us. It is large to Jeep, and I believe they nailed it,” stated Hogan, vp of Sierra Auto Group. “It is key for us to getting the machine turned again on to begin the quantity that is going to be flowing once more and generate the capability in our dealerships. It is bringing in new prospects.”

Jeep believes it has a winner with the Cherokee, much more so than the final technology of the automobile that peaked at almost 240,000 items bought in 2018.

The corporate declined to debate manufacturing expectations, however it possible will not be capable to obtain comparable gross sales numbers till the corporate provides U.S. output capabilities. Plans to broaden manufacturing at an Illinois plant are anticipated as early as subsequent yr.

The Cherokee is at the moment solely being produced at a plant in Toluca, Mexico, that additionally manufactures a smaller Jeep Compass SUV and Jeep Wagoneer S EV, and is slated to supply the upcoming Jeep Recon EV as quickly because the second quarter.

Stellantis’ Toluca plant is estimated to have the capability to supply 303,000 autos yearly, in line with AutoForecast Options.

The auto intelligence and forecasting agency expects Jeep’s U.S. gross sales this yr to extend roughly 10% to 650,000 items, led by the Cherokee, in line with Sam Fiorani, AFS vp of world forecasting.

Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf advised CNBC in December that Cherokee is the precedence for the model amid slowing EV gross sales.

“As soon as Cherokee is completed and has a superb run fee, then we are able to begin on Recon,” he stated. “Recon, I am not in a rush. I wish to get the standard proper of Cherokee, after which as quickly as we’re assured, OK, activate the Recon.”

Broderdorf has been main a turnaround technique for Jeep since being named CEO in February. These efforts have included considerably decreasing costs and mannequin complexity and shifting away from the model’s all-electric plans as a part of a broader pullback by Stellantis that can price the corporate $26 billion.

The 2026 Cherokee is a standard hybrid – a expertise pioneered by the Toyota Prius – that doesn’t require a plug, however does use a small battery and electrical motors to help gas financial system.

Jeep has traditionally been identified for its giant, boxy gas-guzzling SUVs, however the Cherokee is anticipated to attain 37 mixed miles per gallon, together with 35 mpg on the freeway and 39 mpg within the metropolis.

“These are very aggressive numbers,” stated Mike Cockell, director of Jeep Cherokee nameplate. “It is a automobile that should do all of it for the shopper, and we really feel we’re in a position to do all of it. It is like a Swiss military knife.”

The updates are an try to make the automobile extra aggressive in opposition to manufacturers akin to Toyota in addition to to capitalize on anticipated progress in hybrid autos.

“Electrification traits are fairly flat. Hybrid traits are completely rising,” Cox stated. “So, I believe it was a giant transfer in the appropriate route.”

The Cherokee contains a 1.6-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder hybrid powertrain rated at 210 horsepower and 230 foot-pounds of torque. It options customary four-wheel drive, comparatively giant inside screens, and 140 customary and obtainable security and safety features.

Beginning pricing for the Cherokee ranges from roughly $37,000 to $46,000, in line with Stellantis. The bestselling mannequin is anticipated to be the $39,995 Cherokee Laredo, which Stellantis says is projected to symbolize 36% of the automobile’s gross sales.

The pricing positions the midsize automobile to be aggressive in its personal section in addition to in opposition to compact SUVs such because the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.

Jeep officers say these two manufacturers served as benchmarks for the up to date Cherokee.

‘We now have numerous prospects which have both defected or they’ve moved into one thing else as a result of we did not have a product providing for them. So, that is our probability to get them again into the household, and I believe do some conquesting as properly,” Cox stated.