SHANGHAI AUTO SHOW
Toledo-built Cherokee set to debut in China
Nation is Jeep’s largest market outside U.S.
4/18/2013The Toledo-built Jeep Cherokee will make its international debut in China this weekend at the 2013 Shanghai Auto Show.
“Jeep is our global brand and since its inception, the all-new Jeep Cherokee was conceived and developed not only for our home market of the U.S., but also for world markets,” Mike Manley, Jeep’s chief executive officer, said in a statement.
China is Jeep’s largest market outside the United States, and it is rapidly growing. Chrysler Group LLC said Jeep sales in China more than doubled in 2012, with the Compass leading the pack. The Liberty, which was the Cherokee’s predecessor, was not sold in China.
China is the world’s biggest vehicle market. Global automakers are looking to China to drive revenues, but competition is intensifying.
The Cherokee is expected to be in dealer showrooms in China by the end of the year.
Chrysler officials have said the Cherokee will go on sale in the United States by the year’s third quarter. The vehicle was first shown at the New York International Auto Show last month.