Based on information received from one of our sources, we now have a full picture of how FCA will transition from the current-bodied JK to the next generation 2018 JL Jeep Wrangler and 2019 JT Pickup Truck.
01/05/17 Update: Current information shows that starting March 31, 2018, Toledo South will shut down for 3-4 months (or longer) to retool for the 2019 JT Pickup.
The 2017-18 Wrangler Toledo plant schedules also detail the company’s plans to convert the Toledo North Assembly Plant from Cherokee production to JL Wrangler production.
Here’s how it breaks down…
The Toledo Supplier Park (Toledo South) which is the current production home of the JK Wrangler will build the 2017 JK Wrangler until September 30, 2017 before continuing on to build the current-gen 2018 JK Wrangler (see info thread).
The 2018 JK Wrangler will only be a 6-month model year with a production start date of October 2, 2017 and ending on March 30, 2018. After the JK finally bows out in March 2018, Toledo South will shut down for 3-4 months (possibly longer) to retool for the 2019 JT Wrangler Pickup.
Our 2018 JL Wrangler production timeline shows it has an official production launch date of November 13, 2017 which means there will be an 8-month overlap where FCA will be concurrently building JK and JL Wranglers.
In order to prepare for the JL launch, FCA will be shutting down the Toledo North Assembly Plant (that builds the Cherokee KL) for a full 7 months from April 8, 2017 until November 12, 2017 to retool and prepare for the JL Wrangler production launch.
Production of the next iteration of the Jeep Wrangler will be a slow ramp up, with only one line running for JL and JL Unlimited when the vehicle launches, so you’ll want to get those orders in early when order banks open in October/November.
We’ll be bringing you more details on new features, options and pricing in the coming months so stay tuned!