Based on Khodrocar journalist, it has been a while since Fiat-Chrysler talked about letting go of some of its Italian subsidiaries, the Alfa Romeo and the Maserati but some Chinese were rather interested in FCA’s American golden crown the Jeep.
Why Jeep? Not a hard question to answer. Considering FCA’s recent activities, it is obvious that Jeep products became more and more improved over the years from all aspects from technical and qualitative view point to market share which are all connected to each other in a circle. Jeep sold 1.41 million vehicles back in 2016 and now have the 2 million unit sell number for the 2020 in mind. So it is a must to take a better look at the Jeep reputation and history.
Coming from the heart of the WWII along with decades of experience and giving inspiration to all other auto makers leading to younger famous brands and models such as the Hummer, MB G-Class, Toyota Land Cruiser or the Land Rover lineup, Jeep contains a hell of a reputation and potentials which were factors to its superior power in the SUV segment of the global automotive industry. Taking over Jeep is not just owning an automaker brand but is owning a long term proud history, global reputation and a unique life style so it attracts every other car maker to the trade table.
A huge war started to overtake Jeep right after the news was out. The first brand interested in jeep was GM. although it had rejected any partnership with Fiat-Chrysler back in 2015 but GM could never take eyes off of Jeep as a fantastic replacement for the famous defunct Hummer.
Not just GM, but there were other auto makers ready to hunt Jeep. Mahindra, the company that used to produced localized Jeep models in India and TATA Motors the currently owner of the two well-known Jaguar-Land Rover British brands were also out there for Jeep.
But we hear a lot more from China’s 7th auto maker, the Great Wall Motors but why? Great Wall is the first Chinese brand specialized in producing SUV segment vehicles in China and by introducing the specifically SUV maker brand of its subsidiary called HAVAL, a brand that could sell over 580 thousands of its H6 model just in a year, proved that Great Wall knows what he is doing.
Other factors than Great Wall’s potentials satisfied analysts that the future of the global automotive industry is shaped by the Chinese. Factors such as cheap workers, high production figures and diversity of its SUV vehicles, vehicles from a segment that is now the most wanted segment in the world and will be the number one vehicle of choice in the future.
If -and it is a BIG If- the transition takes place it would not come cheap to Great Wall for sure because although Great Wall generates much less annual revenue than FCA — $14.76 billion vs. $131 billion, but it is so confident that he is good not even in making good profits but to prepare the money when need.
By: Mostafa Anisi
