Dave Brown
The Battery Store
4360 Corporate Square
Naples, FL 34104
O: 239-291-6111
A Delaware automotive dealer says that Jeep will no longer ship gas-powered cars to be stocked on his lot as a result of Delaware’s current consideration of adopting the California’s Zero Emission Vehicle, or ZEV, regulatory model that would prohibit sales in the state of new gasoline vehicles beginning in 2035.
Santosh Viswanathan, president and CEO of Lakeshore Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Seaford and managing partner of Willis Ford in Smyrna, said he received notification last week from the brand’s parent company, Stellantis, that he could not receive regular shipments of two popular Jeep gasoline-powered models to stock on his lot “because we are considered a ‘California state.’”
“People will still be able to direct order these gas-powered models, but that could take weeks before they are delivered,” Viswanathan noted.
The prohibited gas-powered Jeeps cited in the notification are the Wrangler four-door Sport, Sahara and Rubicon and the Wrangler two-door Sport and Rubicon. According to the letter, the Jeep Wrangler 4XE and the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4XE, both electric models, will be available to keep in stock in the First State.
“But these are much-more expensive vehicles,” he said.
The gas-powered, four-door 2023 Wrangler has a sticker price of about $34,135, while the electric 4XE has a starting price of about $54,765, according to Kelly Blue Book.
The change in approach from Stellantis would undoubtedly impact sales at the state’s eight Chyrsler Jeep Dodge RAM dealerships under a variety of ownership groups. With no sales tax, Delaware also sees a steady stream of buyers from Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey who could be impacted by the decision to no longer stock gas-powered Wranglers on dealership lots – although those buyers would have few other choices than to get a vehicle shipped.
That’s because Delaware is not alone in this new stocking prohibition for gas vehicles, as California, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, and Colorado are also included due to their adoption of the ZEV standards.
In a statement to Delaware Business Times, Stellantis said the decision on vehicle stocking was predicated on California’s denial to grandfather in the 2-year-old company to its 2020 framework that allows a more lenient ramp up toward the zero-emission goal.
“Stellantis is well on its way to an electrified future marked by a roughly $35 billion investment to support the introduction of 25 [battery-electric vehicles] by 2030, with the first vehicle hitting the road this year. Shortly after Stellantis was formed, we approached California about joining the ‘framework’ negotiated with some of our competitors that would allow Stellantis to comply with alternative California standards based on our nationwide sales. We were informed that California was not allowing any new companies into the framework. The communication to our dealers simply acknowledges the reality that we may need to adjust vehicle allocations among the California and Federal states to ensure that Stellantis complies with different standards in the California states. We will continue to support our dealer network as they work to meet the needs of our consumers during this time, and we will continue to seek a level playing field for our company and our dealers. The ultimate solution rests with a program that allows compliance based on sales in all 50 states,” the company said.
In March 2022, Gov. John Carney announced Delaware planned to join 16 other states in adopting the California Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulations, setting off a year-long, statewide debate about whether all new cars registered in Delaware in 2035 will be only electric, or zero-emission, vehicles as ZEV regulations will require.
Public comments on the issue must be submitted to the Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), which is overseeing enactment of the proposal, by Friday, May 26.
Viswanathan, who also serves as the legislative chair of the Delaware Automotive and Truck Dealers Association, said he is not aware of any other auto manufacturers receiving similar letters to dealerships, “but that will only be a matter of time.” He also said the dealers had no specific action plan except to encourage public comments to DNREC.
In the letter to Viswanathan, Stellantis noted that stocking of the Dodge Durango R/T and SRT, a sporty, mid-sized SUV, would also be prohibited in Delaware.
The Jeep 4XE is a hybrid vehicle, meaning it can run on DC electricity, gasoline, or a combination of both. I have a friend that bought a 4XE last December. He said using electricity only, it would go approximately 20 miles, that’s “twenty miles” before needing a recharge that took hours without getting a several thousand dollar fast charger installed at his home. He only kept it 2 weeks.
You can thank the Climate Communists.
The commies are systematically destroying everything American. Quality education, pancake syrup, sports, beer, manufacturing and the auto industry are all going away. Apple pie is next.
Sad day when industry really thinks the majority will afford, let alone purchase electric. Such a waste.
Picture the future….in OC…250000 in for the July 4th weekend. All electric cars but the power grid goes POO. No really, that fragility is alive.today has happened before way ahead of anyone having electric cars.
Electric cars aren’t drawing from the power grid 24/7, dumbass.
maybe not all at one time but they are drawing
dumbass ? ??????????????? You’re comment would be funny, but you’re the dumbass
Everything else is hardhead. Think for yourself and not what others tell u.
Also, think about it, the upgrades our infrastructure needs before a transfer to green energy. What happens i your world when those who work today wont have jobs in the future? Or the grads today wont want to work in thd future…….
How will anything work and who will be in charge? Me the dumbass? Nah, i will be gone by then….but enjoying retirement which i earned after 40 yrs cupcake.
Where does the electricity come from Einstein? I can tell from your stupid remark you are one of those who is so ignorant you actually think you are smart. I would be willing to bet you have a few letters and dots after your name too, don’t you?
If the power still comes from the same DELMARVA lines and substations, it wont work. We have rolling blackouts multiple times each summer and fall because of just usage.
Cmon man.
Sorry you all can’t keep up. Get with it, or get out of the way!
The EVs will the ones that won’t be able to keep up, wait and see 12:40
Jeeps are Junk. They are basically a fetish Vehicle. Like weekend use Harleys.
Seen on a Jeep spare tire cover, referring to reliability:
Just
Empty
Every
Pocket
Just sayin’
2;03 you are the dumbass do you think there will be 250000 charging stations in OC? How many will be shut down on COASTAL HIGHWAY? How many will be blocking traffic on the 4 lane 90 bridge that these MD architects are wanting to build like a bunch of DUMBASSES? EVERY BODY says that we had enough power to get across the bridge. We are living in the dumbest SOCIETY that has NO common sense. They are closing up DEALERSHIPS now and OC will go broke and turn into an OCEAN front GHOST town. HIP HIP HOORAY for the EASTERN SHORE will have less traffic, less fatalities, less aggressive drivers and we get our peaceful lifestyle back.
Already happening in FLA, condos will be required charging station. Imagine that on the 10 mile island. Say a condo like the 9400, will need stations. Where will it be? In the parking lot of course.
Vacationer comes in late sun nite, no parking except the charging station. Parks at 4am. Someone has to work monday morning, needs a charge, goes down there at 5am and what do the find. Still need to go to work but needs to call the cops and a tow truck. How long does that take. Same.thing is happening across the island……
See the small challenges with mandating change?
obviously a bunch of commies on here –gov. should not be dictating our entire life–due to complete climate fabrication and nonsense
W.F.C. Jeeps now are just over expensive yuppie “look at me vehicles” Now the older cj5 and cj7 were good jeeps. When mercedes benz took over in the mid 2000,s they went to shit.