Chrysler is running with a very small portfolio of cars right now – two, to be precise. However, this is set to change as the brand will soon be expanding its line up. As reported by Allpar, Chrysler will rebadge the Jeep Grand Commander, making it the third model in the brands embarrassingly small lineup.

’Locally Built’ Status Will Keep The Prices In Check

Out of the two cars currently sold under the Chrysler brand, the 300 sedan is expected to get slaughtered without any replacement in sight. The Pacifica minivan, on the other hand, is expected to stay for longer. No; this is not the upcoming Grand Wagoneer; it is the SUV that was launched in China with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine that churns out 231 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque. The rebadged three-row crossover is expected to bear the ‘Journey’ moniker. The SUV will be built locally, most likely alongside the Cherokee at the plant in Belvedere, Illinois. This is just a speculation, as the publication did not rule out the possibility of the Windsor or Toluca factories either.

It Is Not Coming Alone

According to Automotive News, the portal electric minivan has been given a go-ahead by the chair-warmers at Chrysler, and the automaker is eyeing a 2020 launch for the same. If it goes as per plan, this EV and two crossovers might be launched in quick succession. Which is the other crossover, you ask? The company might decide to suffix ‘300’ with a new name for the new model. The report says that it could be called Town & Country or even Suburban. 2020 could also see the Pacifica minivan being updated; although the new-generation is at least five years away.

Our Take

These look like promising times ahead for Chrysler as a standalone brand. The year 2020 will be a turning point in the company’s 93-year history and may very well put Chrysler back in the fray as a strong challenger (pun intended) to the rivals. However, it is a little surprising that FCA did not list these plans in its roadmap for the 2018-2022 period that showcased Ram, Maserati, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, and Ferrari, but not Chrysler. This definitely changes things, and we will stay glued to get more updates. What are your thoughts on this revival attempt? Do you think Chrysler should have introduced brand-new cars instead of re-badging existing cars? I, for one, favor the route chosen by FCA and Chrysler. Test the waters before diving right in. Let us know what you think about this in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2018 Jeep Grand Commander.