Jeep Compass bookings reach 8,171 units since launch

Last month, American carmaker Jeep launched the locally-made Compass in India. Launched at really competitive prices, the five-seater SUV has taken the Indian market by storm. Reportedly, Jeep Compass bookings have now crossed the 8100 mark which is a testimony to the excellent market response received by the baby Grand Cherokee.

Official bookings were started last month, with the Compass garnering over 1000 bookings in the first three days. The number had inflated to 5000 units by the time prices were announced, i.e. around August 1. Jeep literally hit the nail on the head with the pricing and as we approach the end of this month, the number of orders stand at 8171 units.

At this rate, as the number of orders reaches 10,000 units, Jeep is expected to cover its investment of Rs 1790 crores in the coming months. Production has been ramped up at the manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, also responsible for production of upcoming Tata Nexon, to cater to the demand. For the first time since its inception, the plant gets to operate in two shifts for six days in a week.

The Compass is available in two engine options – a 1.4-litre MultiAir petrol and a 2.0-litre MultiJet diesel. The oil-burner unit produces 173 HP of power and 350 Nm of torque, while the petrol engine puts out 162 HP of power and 250 Nm of torque.

Both come mated to a standard six-speed manual transmission, while the petrol engine gets an option of a seven-speed automatic gearbox. Deliveries for the petrol version will commence from October, while the diesel-automatic combination is likely to debut in 2018.

The Jeep Compass primarily competes with the Mahindra XUV500 and Hyundai Tucson. While the booking numbers are lesser than gathered by some rivals in similar time period, the response is nothing less than phenomenal for a brand which is new to our audience.