Long Delayed Jeep Recon EV is Supposedly Still Coming

During an event in 2022, called Jeep 4xe Day,  Jeep promised that it would build a pure EV based on the iconic Wrangler called the Recon. As I reported back then, Ralph Gilles said the Recon was a brother to the Wrangler. It was designed to bring the popular Wrangler attributes like removable doors and open-air roof to the all-electric market. The Recon SUV would be offered exclusively as a BEV. It was supposed to be available starting in 2024. 

Planning for the Launch of the Jeep Recon

Changes in EV demand, chip shortages and tariffs have shaken the world of EVs, forcing all automakers to realign production. Now that federal EV tax incentives have been phased out, demand for electric vehicles is expected to drop as much as 43 percent this month alone. Jeep is apparently still going to proceed with the long-delayed Jeep Recon and it will debut as a 2026 model. 

Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf told MotorTrend magazine that the company still will build the Recon. “We’ve got a great car. We’ve already built it. We should sell it, we should learn. I don’t know how many it will be. I’m not really that worried about it, says the Jeep chief.”

According to MotorTrend, Jeep should be showing the Recon production version soon and it will debut as a 2026 model. The Los Angeles Auto Show is next month, and it always highlights electric vehicles. LA would be the perfect venue to debut the Recon. If not, there is always CES and the Detroit Auto Show in January. Analysts anticipate that demand for EVs will remain fairly strong in California, despite the lack of tax incentives. Plus, California is still calling for stricter fuel economy standards. 

Jeep Recon Features

Back when the Recon was first talked about, Jeep listed some of the EV’s key features. 

Jeep Recon Features

• True trail-rated capability with Jeep Selec-Terrain traction management system
• E-locker axle technology, under-body protection, tow hooks and aggressive off-road tires
• One-touch powertop, removable doors and glass 
• The latest generation Uconnect system, including detailed travel guides of the most notable off-road trails

“The all-new, all-electric Jeep Recon has the capability to cross the mighty Rubicon Trail, one of the most challenging off-road trails in the U.S., and reach the end of the trail with enough range to drive back to town and recharge,” said one Jeep executive.

Recon May be Built in Mexico

Even though Jeep has not made any major announcements about the Recon yet, it is expected to be built at the Toluca plant in Mexico. That plant also builds the Jeep Wagoneer S EV. Those production plans may change as Jeep and its parent company, Stellantis, keep reshuffling the production deck to avoid tariffs. 

I’m glad to hear that Jeep still plans to launch EVs despite the difficult timing. The company has already moved toward producing more gas-powered vehicles to generate profit during the uncertain economic times. Eventually, automakers will have to switch to more EVs, but the transition has slowed significantly.  

Jeep Photo

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

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