Here’s a case study that will be interesting to watch: is a more-or-less copy of the original variation of a vehicle enough of a threat to the manufacturer of the modern-day version that the former will be banned from sale? That’s what’s going down, because Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, who owns Jeep, is going after Mahindra, the maker of the Roxor…you know, that UTV that is really a CJ-3 style Jeep with some visual tweaks that is starting to hit the market here in America. The Roxor is marketed as a UTV because there’s a snowball’s chance in Hell that it’d ever pass new vehicle regulations, but as a UTV it’s perfect: a limited speed of 45 mph out of a four-cylinder turbodiesel.
Mahindra has a grandfathered production license that dates back to 1947, but according to the suit, FCA disputes this. “FCA’s predecessors did have prior dealings with Mahindra India, granting Mahindra India limited contractual rights to manufacture and/or sell Jeep-branded components and products beginning in the 1940s. (next line is redacted). And none of those contracts at any time granted Mahindra India (or any other Mahindra entity) ownership rights over Jeep brand-related intellectual property. Nor did any of these past agreements grant any rights to manufacture, sell, or advertised vehicles, such as the (Roxor), incorporating the Jeep IP in the United States.”
FCA isn’t just peeved…they want the Roxor completely and utterly out of the market. The idea that anything that even remotely resembles a Jeep (let alone one that has roots in Jeep’s original design and is pretty much a dead-ringer for one) is unfathomable and is leaving a sour taste in mouths throughout Auburn Hills and Toledo. There are also serious concerns at FCA that the Roxor could undercut Wrangler sales, even though the Wrangler is street legal while the Roxor isn’t. Per their concerns, the customers who are looking at options for an off-road vehicle might walk away from buying a new Wrangler and instead embrace the old-school charms of the Roxor.
Since the time to do this action would have been about a year ago, I’m -guessing- there was a guy at the top of FCA who was maybe OK with the Mahindra and that guy isn’t there anymore.
FCA is afraid that people will look at the Ruxor and realize that it’s so much better then the crap the FCA builds now.
Jeep products are shit.
FCA is the reason people are looking for alternatives to the Wrangler.
Thanks for ruining an American classic!
Here’s a crazy idea: Why doesn’t FCA build an off road only Jeep branded CJ3A/5/7. Make it available with one tons, a fairly unreasonable amount of lift and a choice of engines ranging from that bs 4cyl from the Dart to a 5.7 or 4BT. People could finally have something to trailer to the trail with their JKU.