Jeep's Next Electrified Off-Roaders Could Come From China
A Billion-Dollar Agreement
Jeep's parent company, Stellantis, and Chinese automaker Dongfeng signed a strategic cooperation agreement on May 15, 2026, to expand production capacity for brands like Peugeot and Jeep's new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China. The partnership will start in 2027, according to a report by a Chinese news source, CLS.
So what will Jeep do with the $1.18 billion investment? According to the agreement, Jeep-branded off-road vehicles will be produced at the Dongfeng Wuhan plant. These units will be slated for export to global markets. Alongside, Peugeot will join Jeep at the Dongfeng Wuhan plant, with production heading for local Chinese and international markets.
On a separate note, Stellantis and Dongfeng also signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding that will see both companies sharing and cooperating on research and development and manufacturing.
Jeep's Back in China
A brand that's famous for its legendary off-roaders and its iconic styling, Jeep's been banking on its American image for most of its life. Iconic styling, rugged off-road performance, and returning to China in 2027. Dongfeng plant will start making new Jeep SUVs in Wuhan. The operative term here is NEVs, which means electrified powertrains are to be expected from this deal.
Two new Jeep off-road NEVs are planned for production at the Wuhan plant. For now, no specific models have yet been disclosed from the report. The units produced will head to international markets outside China, according to the source. News of this might contradict or complement, depending on which models are involved, another news story we covered, which states that Jeep is going to use Toyota's hybrid technology in its Cherokee.
Dongfeng is a new partner for Stellantis, following the auto group's end of its deal with GAC Motor in 2022. Now, Stellantis is back in China, and it may also end up using Dongfeng technologies in its future models, according to Car New China.
Stellantis is also paying attention to the other Chinese new EV brands. This year alone saw a ton of new model releases that push the boundaries of what an electrified off-roader can do. Considering that some Chinese brands like GWM are making over 800 horsepower available to consumers in an SUV is something that we might see from the Dongfeng Stellantis venture.
Antonio Filosa, Stellantis' CEO, said that the project would combine "cutting-edge EV technologies with what the conglomerate already has on hand with its brands. Earlier this year, Stellantis refocused its efforts to just four brands:Fiat, Peugeot, Ram, and, of course, Jeep.
Peugeot in the Mix
Also part of the deal is Chinese Peugeot production, which will include NEVs produced at the Dongfeng Wuhan plant. Under the Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen Automobile (DPCA) joint venture, two new NEVs from Peugeot are expected, both for local Chinese and International markets. This venture follows the DPCA's plan of "China production, global sales" strategy, a phrase mentioned by the joint venture's general manager, Lu Haitao, at the recently concluded 2026 Beijing Auto Show.
Peugeot is also expected to develop NEVs with Dongfeng for both the local Chinese and international export markets. In the near future, we can also expect models to take inspiration from the brand's latest concepts unveiled in China this year.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 3:15 PM.