In a surprising turn of events, Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, has announced the cancellation of the much-anticipated next-generation Jeep Compass project for the Indian market. The project, codenamed J4U, was in development for over a year and was expected to mark a significant update to the popular SUV lineup.
The decision to shelve the project comes after careful consideration of its financial viability within the Indian automotive sector. Despite the company’s initial plans to invest between $400-500 million in creating an all-new product on the STLA-M platform, it was ultimately deemed unfeasible.
Industry insiders suggest that Stellantis explored various possibilities, including developing new-gen Compass on the J4U platform and producing similar-sized Peugeot SUVs for export from India to Malaysia. However, these plans were not sufficient to ensure adequate scale and commercial viability.
This development is a setback for Jeep enthusiasts in India who were eagerly awaiting the launch of the new Compass. It also raises questions about Stellantis’ future strategy and commitment to the Indian market, where it has struggled to gain a strong foothold despite the popularity of its current models.
The current Jeep Compass will be on sale for now and probably the next couple of years till Stellantis decides to bring the new platform to India.
As of now, there is no official word on whether Jeep will introduce an alternative model or if there will be updates to the existing Compass lineup to compensate for this cancellation. The automotive community will be closely watching Stellantis’ next move in this dynamic market.
Also Read: Jeep Compass prices now start from INR 18.99 Lakh
Source: AutoCar India