Jeep’s electrification plans have at least one dealer charged up to get a new Jeep dealership.
Las Vegas dealer Josh Towbin sold his previous Jeep store, but now he wants back in as the brand reshapes its lineup with electrified vehicles. This includes the Recon and Wagoneer S battery-electric vehicles that made appearances at a Stellantis dealer meeting last month in Las Vegas.
Stellantis detailed more than 30 new products for numerous brands at the meeting, the first of its kind in eight years for retailers who were with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles before the 2021 merger that brought it and France’s PSA Group together as Stellantis.
The Recon is an eco-friendly off-roader inspired by the Wrangler, while the Wagoneer S is an upscale midsize entry with a design language that separates it from its larger three-row counterparts. Both models are slated to go into production in 2024.
Towbin, who owns Towbin Automotive Group, said the Recon’s off-road prowess won’t be diluted by its electric powertrain. It still has the Jeep DNA, Towbin said, and he enjoys the fact that the doors can be removed to provide the open-air experience the Wrangler is known for.
“I was a fan the second I saw it,” Towbin told Automotive News. “I get a vibe for a car, if it’s going to be a hit or not, just like a gut feeling. I do pretty good with that. I’ve been aware of that car for a while, and it’s an exciting vehicle. I think that car is just going to be a guaranteed hit. It’s got the Jeep off-road capabilities.”
Pictures and videos of the Jeep EVs made their rounds online after several dealerships shared them on their social channels. Some of the photos came from Josh Douglas, general manager of Lee Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram in Westbrook, Maine.
That dealership’s Facebook page features numerous shots of the electric Jeeps along with a slew of other Stellantis EVs, including the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept and the Ram 1500 Revolution concept that debuted at CES in January.
Douglas said the store posted the images to help build its voice and get its customers excited about what Stellantis is cooking up. But “if they spread beyond that, that’s great,” he added.