[Wrangler JL News]

Jeep is set to move production of the Cherokee in their Toledo plant this April to make way for the 2018 Wrangler, which we have learned is set to start rolling off the assembly line in November.

To make space for the improved second-generation global Cherokee at the Fiat Chrysler plant in Belvidere, Illinois, Jeep has ceased production of the Patriot and Compass on December 23 last year.

We still don’t have an official Wrangler JL launch date, but The Toledo Blade stated that after the Cherokee’s production move, the Toledo plant will be shut down for a span of six month to update the assembly line and retool it for the new body-on-frame Wrangler. This would put the 2018 Wrangler’s production month in November with pre-production models rolling off the assembly line much earlier.

Pre-production models are vehicles that are built in small quantities to test a facility’s assembly techniques and tools. It’s also a chance to train workers for volume production and the built cars can be used for press appearances.

As all this is going on, the current Wrangler’s production will go on uninterrupted and it’ll be built alongside the JL until March, 2018. That’s when FCA plans to shut down that half of the plant to prepare it for the new Wrangler pickup.

 

[Gina]

What I don't understand is why they would want to produce both the JL and JK side by side when they won't be too different from each other.

 

[HighRider]

Because there will be those who purchases the older model for the price drops that it'll undoubtedly get once the new JL is out. That'll give Jeep a boost in sales numbers for the first half of 2018. And there are probably older orders they have to fill before ending production.

 

[Mangler]

Weren't they just going to produce the special editions until the JL was ready to roll out?

 

[gladiator]

While we don't have information on a launch date what we can look out for is when tech's go in for training, which is usually revealed by certain tech's also in communities like this.

Once they get called for training that seals the deal.

 

[Gina]

Well, the 2017 consumer electronics and consumer technology trade show has already started yesterday. Was hoping to hear something from Jeep at that show, but all we have so far is the weird Portal concept from FCA.

 

[Mangler]

Yea didn't really hear much. Heard some stuff from Toyota but that's of no relevance anyhow.

I don't really think they'll be bringing anything that technologically advanced to the JL anyhow that'll be CES worthy

 

[gladiator]

Well, the 2017 consumer electronics and consumer technology trade show has already started yesterday. Was hoping to hear something from Jeep at that show, but all we have so far is the weird Portal concept from FCA.

Don't dismiss what FCA did with the Chrysler Portal concept because in this day and age car makers are always looking to share DNA among models and share features, even when its between a number of brands they offer. I say this because guaranteed we'll see technology like this in some Jeep:

FCA (FCAU, +6.83%) worked with engineers at Panasonic Automotive to integrate emerging technologies such as facial recognition and voice biometric technologies to provide customized user experiences in the car. For instance, facial recognition will tell the Chrysler Portal who is in the vehicle and how to automatically deliver preferred setting such as lighting, vehicle temperature, music, according to FCA. Internet cloud-based technologies, combined with facial and voice recognition, keep those preferred settings in sync should a passenger move to another seat, the company says.

... from a fortune article: CES 2017: Fiat Chrysler Unveils Electric Concept Aimed at Millennials | Fortune.com

 

[Gina]

I've found some new info, seems like the 2017 Wrangler JK maybe built until September 30, 2017, before production of the 2018 model year JK begins on October 2nd and then the JL will go into production November 13th, 2017.

 

[gladiator]

Some conflicting information says that production will stop at the end of Q1 in 2017. What you might have read and what other sources might have meant by that Sept 30 date is the cut off date for selling JK's.

 

[Mangler]

From what it seems is that it sort of follows the concept of the VW Digital Key and User ID but it's on steroids by using facial recognition instead. That's pretty cool.

But in regards to production ending, they key thing is to remember when they talk about production ending, and sales ending, they are two different things. Easily confused by a lot of people.

 

[HighRider]

So the cutoff date for purchasing a 2017 Wrangler JK is sometime this September? There's so many dates thrown around, but at least the JL date seems pretty consistent.

 

[JeepFan]

It's not rocket science. We just got word of when production will stop, logic says they'll need x amount of months to move all those Wranlgers produced before having to get aggressive about pushing them off lots. Along with changing online/offline JK content to JL and JT. It's simple math at the end of the day as long as you've read this entire thread.