How Jeep is going electric, with CEO Christian Meunier

Decoder with Nilay Patel

This week we are talking to Jeep CEO Christian Meunier – and there’s a lot to talk about. Jeep just announced its second hybrid electric vehicle in the US, the Grand Cherokee 4xe. It also announced a plan for its first electric car in 2023, and to have EVs across the line by 2025, which is very soon. And it’s now part of a huge global car company called Stellantis.

So I wanted to know: why start with hybrids, instead of jumping straight to EVs? What does it mean to be the CEO of a brand like Jeep inside of of a huge international company like Stellantis? How does the Jeep team make decisions about features and technology, and how much do they have to defer to a larger parent company? And what does it mean for Jeep, one of the most iconic American car brands, to be part of a huge global company now?

Christian and I talked about all of that, as well as how the chip shortage is affecting Jeep, what cars will look like in 2040, and Jeep’s use of the name “Cherokee” in 2021.

Yeah, this interview goes places.

Links:

The first plug-in hybrid Jeep Grand Cherokee is here

Tested: 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Complicates a Simple Machine

2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4xe: A Hybrid That Comes Up Short

The electric Mustang Mach-E takes Ford in a whole new direction

Jeep Badge of Honor App

Jeep EV Day video

Episode Transcript

Credits:

Today’s episode was produced by Creighton DeSimone, Alexander Charles Adams, and Andrew Marino. And we are edited by Callie Wright. Our music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

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