By Ginika Igboke
Automotive giant Stellantis announced on Friday that it will stop selling its plug-in hybrid electric Jeep Wrangler and Grand Cherokee models, as well as Chrysler Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivans, in the United States, citing sluggish demand for electric and electrified vehicles.
The company said it will begin phasing out plug-in hybrid programs in North America starting with the 2026 model year, shifting its strategy toward what it described as more competitive electrified options. These include traditional hybrid systems and range-extended vehicles designed to better align with current consumer demand and market conditions.
Stellantis is the latest major automaker to rethink its electric vehicle strategy amid slower-than-expected EV adoption. General Motors recently reported losses of $7.1 billion in the final quarter of 2025 after cutting back EV production and refocusing on higher-margin full-size SUVs and pickup trucks. Ford has also scaled back its electric car output after absorbing $19.5 billion in losses tied to EV investments, pivoting instead toward trucks, vans, and other more profitable vehicle lines.
The move by Stellantis follows a significant recall announced three months ago involving more than 320,000 Jeep plug-in hybrid vehicles in the United States and an additional 20,000 in Canada. The recall addressed concerns over a battery defect that could pose a fire risk even when the vehicle was parked and turned off. Affected vehicles included Jeep Wrangler models from 2021 to 2025 and Jeep Grand Cherokee models from 2022 to 2025.
Prior to the recall, Stellantis had announced plans to shift production of the Jeep Compass from Ontario, Canada, to Illinois as part of a $13 billion investment aimed at expanding U.S. manufacturing over the next four years. That decision prompted the Canadian government to initiate a formal dispute resolution process in an effort to restore production at its Brampton facility.
Despite scaling back certain plug-in hybrid offerings, Stellantis continues to pursue broader electrification initiatives. In November, the company announced a partnership with Tesla’s Supercharger Network to adopt the North American Charging System for select battery-electric vehicles across North America, Japan, and South Korea. Access to the charging network is expected to begin this year for the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona, followed by the 2026 Jeep Recon and other future models.
“By unlocking broader access to charging infrastructure, Stellantis gives customers more choice, more coverage, and more control over how, where, and when they power their vehicles,” the company said.
In additional developments, Stellantis revealed a new partnership with Bolt, Europe’s leading mobility platform, to explore the deployment of autonomous, driverless vehicles for commercial use across Europe. The collaboration will pair Stellantis’ midsize vans with Bolt’s ride-hailing and mobility services, with potential operations spanning up to 50 countries.
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