LOS ANGELES — Jeep on Tuesday officially unveiled the 2026 Recon, an all-electric SUV priced from $65,000, marking the brand’s latest push into the EV market and its most direct attempt yet to electrify the off-road identity long defined by the Wrangler.
2026 Jeep Recon EV Debuts at $65,000 Ahead of LA Auto Show
The Recon has been under development for years, following the brand’s announcement in 2021 that it would build an EV inspired by its iconic off-road lineup. Production is scheduled to begin early next year at Stellantis’ Toluca Assembly Plant in Mexico.
Revealed ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Recon carries familiar Jeep cues: a boxy frame, removable doors, rear-mounted spare tire and an open-air roof — all hallmarks of the Wrangler.
“With the Jeep Recon, we’re proving that electrification isn’t just compatible with off-road excellence, it can elevate it,” Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf said, highlighting benefits such as instant torque, precision control and quieter driving.
The SUV arrives as part of Jeep’s broader turnaround plan following years of declining sales and the discontinuation of several U.S. models to streamline the lineup. It is the fourth and final product in a four-month rollout that included a new Cherokee hybrid and redesigned versions of the Grand Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer.
Broderdorf said the Recon completes the brand’s “4×4” product push for the year and will accompany several special-edition Jeep models set for launch in 2025.
Powered by dual electric motors, the Recon produces 650 horsepower and 620 pound-feet of torque — levels comparable to some V-6 and V-8 performance vehicles. However, range is limited to about 250 miles per charge, below many lower-priced EVs on the market.
At $65,000, the Recon is about $14,000 more than the entry-level 2025 Wrangler plug-in hybrid and nearly $27,000 more than a base 2026 four-door Wrangler. Its pricing aligns closely with Jeep’s Wagoneer S EV, listed at $65,200 with 294 miles of range.
The launch comes as Stellantis scales back EV investments amid shifting market conditions and leadership changes. Industrywide EV sales have declined since federal incentives of up to $7,500 ended in September.
Broderdorf acknowledged that the loss of incentives could affect demand, including for the Recon, but said the vehicle acts as an EV “bookend” to the sportier Wagoneer S, shaping Jeep’s electric portfolio without a focus on volume at all costs.
“I’m not going to just chase volume,” he said. “Everybody who wants a battery-electric vehicle, Recon, I want to make sure we’re there for them.”
The Recon will be built alongside the Wagoneer S, Jeep Compass and the hybrid-only new Cherokee at the Toluca plant. Broderdorf said the facility has enough flexibility to expand output of the gas-powered Compass and Cherokee depending on EV demand. Both models are expected to be produced in the U.S. in coming years.
Jeep has struggled with a steep sales drop since reaching a record 973,000 vehicles sold in 2018. Sales have fallen 40% since then, dropping below 590,000 in the U.S. last year. Through the third quarter of this year, Jeep’s sales rose less than 0.5%, while its U.S. market share slid from 5.4% in 2019 to 3.7% since 2024, according to Cox Automotive.
Despite the challenges, Broderdorf said he aims for steady and sustainable growth for the brand. “We’re going to grow, grow and grow,” he told CNBC. “That’s the mission. And do it in a healthy way.”
