Fiat Seeing Jeep as Global SUV Giant to Fulfill Auto Dreams
- CEO told analysts brand could sell 7 million vehicles a year
- Growing lineup positioned to reap gains from demand shift
Fiat Chrysler Bets on Jeep for Global Growth
While automakers around the world covet Jeep for its strong growth and fat profits, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV sees potential for much more, banking on the rugged brand to vie with global giants like Toyota, Volkswagen and Ford.
The Italian-American automaker is forecasting Jeep’s annual sales will jump about 30 percent next year to 2 million vehicles and predicts the brand could eventually deliver 7 million units a year as appetite for SUVs surges worldwide, Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne has told analysts. That would continue impressive growth for a U.S.-focused off-road brand that had little more than 300,000 deliveries in 2009, when Fiat took control of Jeep as part of its acquisition of Chrysler.