Ford Ranger Rival Jeep Gladiator Not Getting PHEV Variant

The first-ever Ford Ranger PHEV launched in markets including Europe and Australia earlier this year, though for now at least, the electrified mid-size pickup won’t be sold in North America – even if there are plenty 0f folks that wish it would be. Meanwhile, as Ford Authority reported last year, one of the Ranger’s rivals, the Jeep Gladiator, was previously slated to get a plug-in hybrid powertrain, news that came from the brand’s CEO himself, Antonio Filosa. Now, it seems as if those plans have changed.

According to Automotive News, Stellantis has now opted to cancel the Jeep Gladiator 4xe PHEV, a move that it recently revealed in a supplier letter. The automaker is apparently reassessing its future product plans, and it ultimately determined that a plug-in hybrid Gladiator just doesn’t make sense right now. It’s an interesting decision given the fact that the SUV version of the Jeep Gladiator – the Wrangler – is already sold in 4xe form, as is the case with the Grand Cherokee, too.

“The Jeep brand has already begun reinvesting funding to ensure the long-term growth of the Jeep Gladiator and will introduce even more customer-requested factory features, customization, and additional powertrain options in the near future,” the letter said. “As customers’ propulsion preferences for battery-electric trucks continue to evolve, Stellantis is reassessing its product strategy and will no longer include an electrified Gladiator variant in the Jeep lineup.”

Regardless, this is just the latest big model news coming from Stellantis, on the heels of its decision to cancel the planned all-electric version of the Ram 1500 pickup, called REV. That name will now instead be used on what was formerly going to be called the Ramcharger, an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) expected to utilize a large 70.8 kWh battery pack providing 145 miles of pure EV driving range, paired with a gas engine in the form of the 3.6L Pentastar V6, which powers a generator designed to produce electricity for the battery, as well as power the truck itself.