Chief Executive Officer of both Chrysler and Fiat, Sergio Marchionne has stated that despite his company's plans to push the Jeep brand around the world and a requirement to one day build Jeeps in China -- the Toledo-made Jeep Wrangler will remain a U.S.-made vehicle.
"I think we need to preserve some cars as not being produced there, and I think that the Wrangler, in all likelihood will continue to be sourced and manufactured here in the United States. It's too important of an iconic model within Jeep to be made elsewhere."
Mr. Marchionne made the statement as the automaker considers a potential investment into its sprawling Toledo Assembly complex, where the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Liberty, and Dodge Nitro SUVs are built in two assembly plants.
Jeep brand president Michael Manley said last month that he was concerned that the automaker's Wrangler plant, which can make about 155,000 vehicles per year, might not have enough capacity to meet global demand.
Indeed, through the first half of this year, Chrysler has sold 75,257 Wrangler and four-door Wrangler Unlimiteds worldwide, including 22,021 outside of the United States. Mr. Marchionne said this week that Jeep brand sales outside the United States had increased 54 percent so far this year to 148,000 units, up from 94,000 units during the same period in 2010.
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