Jeep has been on a rollercoaster ride over the past few years. Sales have been affectedDealers are holding inventory, they are heavily discounting to move, quality has suffered and worse still their cars have become too expensive for many will buy — something the company admits even though it just released a 70,000 USD electric car. Jeep is also unusual in the multitude of options, styles and colors it offers customers. That could soon end if one of Jeep’s executives gets his way.
Talking to CD driverJeep senior vice president Bill Peffer explained how the brand should probably start reducing the amount of trim on some of its models, primarily the Wrangler and Gladiator. And he may have a point. The Wrangler has perhaps one of the most extensive lineups on the market: two- or four-door configurations with hardtop or convertible options, three engines and eight trim levels with prices ranging from $36,595 to $100,590. That doesn’t include the Wrangler 4xe.
Peffer explains the brand’s rationale using the recently introduced Wagoneer S as an example.
We are a mass market brand. We sell everything in large quantities – much wider than Maserati. Reducing complexity is something that happens all the time, and perhaps we could do a little more. One of the ways we address complexity is by bringing to market a product like the Wagoneer S in one configuration.
Reducing decorative details is not just about reducing the number of decorative details and creating more favorable conditions for customers. It’s also a matter of quality control, Peffer said. All those different decorative details add to the complexity of the production process. And with Jeep’s recent reliability problems, they can’t afford the hiccups. “Therefore, [that] To me what’s interesting about reducing complexity is. Not only do you gain efficiency, but you also have less chance of making mistakes,” he explains.
If the combination of quality control, lower prices and less complex designs works, customers may start returning to Jeeps dealerships.
