Jeep on pace for record 2015 sales

Jeep is on track for record sales globally this year and expects to keep the momentum going as it continues to expand its lineup with a number of new SUVs and a pickup on the horizon.

The brand, which is the sales and profit engine of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, had sold 1,013,000 vehicles so far this year by the end of October. That compares to the record 1,017,000 vehicles sold in all of 2014.

Manley said Jeep sales are up 22% globally from a year ago and up 24% in the U.S. He is pleased to be able to carry the momentum into the brand's 75th anniversary next year.

"It is a true American icon," Manley said of the brand that resonates around the world.

Much of the credit goes to the strong North American market and to the newest member of the family, the subcompact Jeep Renegade. And the brand shows no signs of slowing down with the addition of the Jeep Grand Wagoneer SUV coming in late 2018, a compact crossover to replace the Compass and Patriot in late 2016 and the expectation of a Wrangler pickup.

The Grand Wagoneer is a three-row upscale SUV meant to compete with luxury brand Land Rover. It is a segment Jeep needs to be in, Manley said.

Before it hits the market, Jeep will introduce a new compact crossover in late 2016 for the 2017 model year to replace the current Compass and Patriot.

Manley is happy with the design direction but would not say if the replacement adopts the curvy lines of the Compass or goes boxy like the Patriot. And the name is still being debated.

"Both Compass and Patriot are very strong names for us," Manley said. "In international markets Compass is stronger than Patriot. Here in the U.S., Patriot is stronger than Compass. So we've got two viable names we could use...but no decision yet."

Manley does not rule out continued use of different names for different regions. The U.S. is one of the few markets that currently sells both crossovers. "You might see on a global basis the use of both names," he said.

Personally, "I'm not wedded to either name. I like both of them."

The decision must be made soon. There are badges to be made, marketing plans to finalize. Manley said the decision will be made early next year but it will be kept secret until the new vehicle is unveiled.

The Jeep chief was also tight-lipped on plans for a Wrangler pickup which the automaker has not officially announced yet, but the news leaked out during negotiations with the United Auto Workers union.

"I am a huge advocate for Wrangler pickup in the lineup," said Manley who has wanted one for many years. "It has a historical place in our brand."

Jeep has sold almost 45,000 Renegades in the U.S. through October and it has contributed to an overall Jeep sales increase of 72% in Europe so far this year.

Renegade is now for sale in Japan but has not yet launched in China and most of Asia.

Renegade contributed about 45,000 sales to the U.S. total in October. To date, overall Jeep sales of almost 706,500 in the U.S. are up 24%. All models are selling better than a year ago.