Jeep Canceled the Gladiator 4xe Before It Could Get Off the Ground
Last year, Jeep announced a plug-in hybrid 4xe version of the Gladiator pickup, but we’ve now learned that the automaker has pulled the plug on the off-roader. It recently told dealers that the truck would be canceled, saying that it would focus more on the features and accessories buyers want.
Jeep’s statement said, “The Jeep brand has already begun reinvesting funding to ensure the long-term growth of the Jeep Gladiator and will introduce even more customer-requested factory features, customization, and additional powertrain options in the near future.”
The Gladiator 4xe would have been Jeep’s third plug-in hybrid, following the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee. The automaker’s PHEV system only offers around 20 miles of electric range in the Wrangler, and it has had quality issues since its release, so it’s not super surprising to hear this announcement. The PHEV powertrain does offer benefits off-road, giving the vehicles extra torque when they need it, but pricing is also an issue, as the 4xe models are considerably more expensive.
Despite those issues, the Wrangler 4xe is the best-selling PHEV in America, though Jeep’s parent company isn’t seeing the strong sales it needs to keep pushing forward with aggressive electrification efforts. Sister brand Ram recently canceled its all-electric pickup to focus on a range-extended variant, and Dodge has struggled with demand for the electric Charger Daytona.
[Images: Jeep]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
More by Chris Teague
Comments
Join the conversation
@RedApple2 - A lot of people do. Just like a lot of people track a $100k car in an environment that breaks a lot of components and has a high chance of breaking things.
The thing is, this product was on the outside of nearly every circle you could add to a Venn diagram. Cancelling it now is better for the business than cancelling it in a year or two.