Jeep Cherokee's Next Generation Already in the Works

The sixth-generation Jeep Cherokee, which only hit the market for the 2026 model year, is already set to be replaced before the decade ends. S. vehicle to use that architecture. Production is expected to start at the company's idled Belvidere, Illinois plant, with an additional $200 million investment bringing the total there to over $800 million.

The current Cherokee, built on the STLA Large platform, has struggled since its relaunch. In the first half of 2026, Jeep sold just 10,570 Cherokees, a sharp drop from nearly 240,000 sold in 2018. Over 11,200 new Cherokees are currently sitting on AutoTrader, and the model has been hit with five recalls this year.

The short lifespan of this generation is unusual, but the poor sales performance may justify the quick replacement.

Production will move to Belvidere, which previously built both the Cherokee and the Compass before Compass production shifted to Mexico in 2016 and the fifth-generation Cherokee was discontinued in 2023. Stellantis says preparations to reopen the plant have already begun, with over $60 million spent on stamping, body, paint, and assembly work.

Pilot production of the new Cherokee is targeted for the first half of 2028, with full production expected in the second half of 2029.

S. manufacturing. He added that selecting the right architecture, timing, and execution supports growth and long-term stability for employees, customers, and stakeholders. No details have been released yet on what the seventh-generation Cherokee will look like, what powertrains it will offer, or whether it will share parts with the current model.