[SHEEDNYC17]

Nothing new on this vehicle and Detroit Auto show "SHOULD PUT THE SPOT LIGHT ON THE RENEGADE IF JEEP (FCA) IS SERIOUS ABOUT SEEING MODERATE SUCCESS IN THE STATES" so what's holding them back? Issues meeting the demand? Issues with parts? Pricing decisions? Labeling it 2015/2016?

With this year being labeled the year of the mid-size SUV/CUV, why is FCA holding back? Honda, Mazda, and a few others are flooding the market with Intel and seem to have a fast track to leading this segment. Why?

I'm not as informed in jeeps way of pushing info and releasing vehicles but something seems awry. I've seen post with pricing questimates and I'm inclined to say Jeep Renegade Sport starts at $14,695 sans delivery cost and maxing at $22,895 again sans delivery.

I guess I mean why why why! Why haven't we been given anything solid. (Sorry totally in my baby mode.

 

[Reg]

Perhaps a merged global company in disarray?

 

[raz-0]

Well, I can think of a few reasons why it might be.

First, I think this is really Jeep's first global product. Everything else jeep seems to be a product designed for the US market and exported. The Renegade seems to be designed as a global product and developed and deployed as a global product. It's like herding cats, and there's the schedule you would like, and the schedule you get.

Second, Renegade appears to be a key product release in the middle of a bunch of other plans for FCA as a whole. It isn't just being built in Italy, it was a key part in de-idling the melfi plant and paying people for no work. It isn't just being built in Brazil, it's the inaugural product for their new manufacturing facility that is supposed to support a lot of FCA growth in the region. It's not just the first vehicle FCA has produced using an unprecedented level of computer simulation up front, but it's the inaugural project of the facility in India that permits that level of simulation affordably. We weren't just getting the roll out of a new car, we were getting the roll out for a whole new development pipeline as well as new manufacturing capacity build out.

Third you have a hot segment. It's poised to be a big segment in the US for 2015/2016, but it already is hot elsewhere. FCA seems to have done their best to front run the glut of announcements and new product roll outs. They may not beat the real products to market with their own real product by a huge margin, but they certainly got the buzz out while the news was a lot quieter.

Fourth, all of the above was risky and time sensitive. The US market is huge, and was not going to be where this product could hit the market first in any reasonable manner. Certainly not quickly. Which left the US market even farther behind the PR curve.

Fifth, you have trailing factors that are more external to FCA than the above. Among them are the crashing price of oil, the exchange rate of the dollar vs. the euro, US sales rates across the market, and US auto marketing tradition of trying to tie your release to a big auto show event. They didn't make LA, which leaves Detroit as the next option, and you don't want to let the wind out of your own sails by giving away the punchline early.

It's an awkwardly timed release, but for both FCA and the market, it's probably less bad than being a typical 2016 release schedule. Because of that, we likely got to see a bit more of the sausage making process than we would have liked.

 

[djeffery]

You would think that someone in the shipping business would know if U.S.-bound Renegades are loading in Genoa (or wherever). Or that someone at FCA would have leaked VIN details. Or, maybe the first lot is here stashed in a port warehouses. Maybe they are moving at night hauled by camouflaged car carriers converging from Canada and Mexico.

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

Perhaps a merged global company in disarray?

I'm more inclined to believe this than any other reason given.

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

You would think that someone in the shipping business would know if U.S.-bound Renegades are loading in Genoa (or wherever). Or that someone at FCA would have leaked VIN details. Or, maybe the first lot is here stashed in a port warehouses. Maybe they are moving at night hauled by camouflaged car carriers converging from Canada and Mexico.

If Apple can do it with no leaks who's to say FCA cant.

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

Well, I can think of a few reasons why it might be.

First, I think this is really Jeep's first global product. Everything else jeep seems to be a product designed for the US market and exported. The Renegade seems to be designed as a global product and developed and deployed as a global product. It's like herding cats, and there's the schedule you would like, and the schedule you get.

Second, Renegade appears to be a key product release in the middle of a bunch of other plans for FCA as a whole. It isn't just being built in Italy, it was a key part in de-idling the melfi plant and paying people for no work. It isn't just being built in Brazil, it's the inaugural product for their new manufacturing facility that is supposed to support a lot of FCA growth in the region. It's not just the first vehicle FCA has produced using an unprecedented level of computer simulation up front, but it's the inaugural project of the facility in India that permits that level of simulation affordably. We weren't just getting the roll out of a new car, we were getting the roll out for a whole new development pipeline as well as new manufacturing capacity build out.

Third you have a hot segment. It's poised to be a big segment in the US for 2015/2016, but it already is hot elsewhere. FCA seems to have done their best to front run the glut of announcements and new product roll outs. They may not beat the real products to market with their own real product by a huge margin, but they certainly got the buzz out while the news was a lot quieter.

Fourth, all of the above was risky and time sensitive. The US market is huge, and was not going to be where this product could hit the market first in any reasonable manner. Certainly not quickly. Which left the US market even farther behind the PR curve.

Fifth, you have trailing factors that are more external to FCA than the above. Among them are the crashing price of oil, the exchange rate of the dollar vs. the euro, US sales rates across the market, and US auto marketing tradition of trying to tie your release to a big auto show event. They didn't make LA, which leaves Detroit as the next option, and you don't want to let the wind out of your own sails by giving away the punchline early.

It's an awkwardly timed release, but for both FCA and the market, it's probably less bad than being a typical 2016 release schedule. Because of that, we likely got to see a bit more of the sausage making process than we would have liked.

All extremely valid points. However I believe it's part of marketing as well. We want what we can't have. It absolutely sucks to see our friends across the pond putting their vehicles through the ringer and we aren't even sure what were getting. As buzz builds demand builds and if it is going to compete with the other players in this market a demand must be their. Cult followings are nice however they don't normally equal high sales.

 

[Jeepers]

It is annoying not getting details but I doubt that the delay in information for the North American model is going to significantly impact sales. I am sure that they are waiting for just the right moment to release the info for maximum impact.

 

[Reg]

It is annoying not getting details but I doubt that the delay in information for the North American model is going to significantly impact sales. I am sure that they are waiting for just the right moment to release the info for maximum impact.

If it is truly priced as an entry-level vehicle, bear in mind that there is usually pent-up demand in that segment that coincidences with tax-returns, which is coming up soon. Many dealers even advertise some method to sign over your tax return prior to receiving it as down-payment. They are missing auto shows, 4x4 season (for many), and the late winter tax season for auto sales.
You think this is planned?

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

If it is truly priced as an entry-level vehicle, bear in mind that there is usually pent-up demand in that segment that coincidences with tax-returns, which is coming up soon. Many dealers even advertise some method to sign over your tax return prior to receiving it as down-payment. They are missing auto shows, 4x4 season (for many), and the late winter tax season for auto sales.
You think this is planned?

No matter the situation I think had they met 4th quarter demand on 4X4's it would have been ideal for their growth. If nothing's released within the next few weeks I do believe it'll be a loss, and I'm sure the lack of information is planned but to what degree.

 

[West Coast]

Just got another email today from Jeep with a link showing the same old stuff.

I really wish they could at least give us the pricing.

 

[Jeep6855]

I'm just hoping I get to see one before my wife finds a Nissan Juke she likes.

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

Just got another email today from Jeep with a link showing the same old stuff.

I really wish they could at least give us the pricing.

Just got it as well. So angry

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

I'm just hoping I get to see one before my wife finds a Nissan Juke she likes.

Mine wants a juke as well.

 

[CalTom]

At least there is a little good news, production is ramping up:

Fiat Chrysler looks to add 1,500 jobs in Italian factory

Monday, January 12, 2015 10:25 am | Updated: 1:05 pm, Mon Jan 12, 2015.
Associated Press |

ROME (AP) — Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says "extremely positive" results for sales of the new Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X will allow the automaker to add 1,500 new jobs in Italy.

It said Monday that the workers at the plant in Melfi, in the southern region of Basilicata, will initially be on temporary contracts.

The company said that once global demand for the models is stable, the workers could be offered new contracts featuring increasing job security.

The round of hiring would be a bright spot for Italy, where unemployment last year topped 13 percent.

Fiat says that Melfi, where it has invested more than 1 billion euros ($1.2billion) toward the production of the new models, is now one of the world's most advanced car assembly plants.
http://www.michigansthumb.com/ap_news/article_1ec9bb4a-dc5b-564b-8e29-2cb845cbf9ce.html

 

[Reg]

No matter the situation I think had they met 4th quarter demand on 4X4's it would have been ideal for their growth. If nothing's released within the next few weeks I do believe it'll be a loss, and I'm sure the lack of information is planned but to what degree.

I understand, but I certainly would not plan it that way. Not all of like to be kept in the dark waiting for "the big reveal". I would rather have some good, tangible information to evaluate over time. Sometimes, stringing folks along can backfire.

Part of me still thinks they in over their heads, at least for the moment.

 

[SubVet]

I just posted in your "Would you bite" thread and since then I've been thinking.

They are saying they want the new Compass to be a miniature Grand Cherokee so what if they make it a tad more luxurious and increase the price and put the Renegade right there with the $18,895 starting price tag?

Whatever happens, I don't think it's going to start below $17k for the sport 2WD manual 1.4l. But I could be wrong.

The more I think about their offerings, the less I understand what they're trying to do with each and where it's supposed to fit in the market other than the Grand Cherokee and the Wrangler.

Maybe that's why we don't know how much dough we're going to have to shell out... because they can't figure it out either...

 

[SHEEDNYC17]

I just posted in your "Would you bite" thread and since then I've been thinking.

They are saying they want the new Compass to be a miniature Grand Cherokee so what if they make it a tad more luxurious and increase the price and put the Renegade right there with the $18,895 starting price tag?

Whatever happens, I don't think it's going to start below $17k for the sport 2WD manual 1.4l. But I could be wrong.

This sounds crazy but if it comes in at $17K starting before dest. I may pass. With what's currently being offered on the lot now I think $17K is ATLEAST $2K too high. They currently have it like this
Patroit
Compass
.....the rest

So since both have 15 titles attached and jeep releases a renegade with a 15 tag they can't release it higher priced than said models. I think the sweet spot is $14.5-$15.5 before any dest. fees! (Crazy idea but I really think they could do it. It would allow them to absolutely cannabilize the market and really make a dent in that 1.8 million goal in 2 years)

 

[Indiana Jones]

This is just standard issue with Fiat.They did this with the 500, Abarth, Abarth convertible, Alpha Romeo, and Hellcat. I was told "first quarter" by the Jeep rep, but I wouldn't be surprised of it was longer.

 

[djeffery]

If Apple can do it with no leaks who's to say FCA cant.

A lot is leaked about upcoming Apple products, from people inside their main supplier in China and elsewhere. Maybe, though, it is done on purpose for advanced marketing reasons. Guess we'll just have to wait.