Where Are Jeep Cherokees Made? (Solved & Explained)

The Jeep Cherokee is a compact SUV that is a cut above the rest of its competitors when it comes to off-road capability.

Throughout five major iterations, this vehicle has established itself as the go-to SUV for individuals who are adventurous and love the outdoors.

If the Cherokee is on your list of candidates for purchase, you may want to learn about where they are manufactured.

Read on to find out!

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Where are Cherokees Being Made?

Stellantis, the current owner of Jeep, manufactures fifth generation Cherokees in Illinois (since 2017) and China (since 2015). Specifically, production is done in the Belvidere Assembly Plant and the Changsha Assembly Plant. Its predecessor, the Liberty, was assembled in Ohio, Egypt, and Venezuela.

The Belvidere Assembly Plant is a facility that has been in operation since 1965. It started producing the Cherokee in 2017 and produces only this model for Jeep.

The Changsha Assembly Plant is a facility that has been in operation since 2012. It currently produces the following models for Jeep:

Cherokee
Renegade
Compass
Grand Commander

You may also be interested in our article: 11 Jeep Cherokee facts & statistics

Are Cherokees for the US Market Produced in the US?

Since 2014, the Jeep Cherokee for the US market has been made inside North America at the Belvidere Assembly Plant, Illinos.

From 2013 – 2017, Cherokees for the US market were made in the Toledo Assembly Complex in Toledo, Ohio.

From 2017 onwards, Cherokees for the US market were produced and assembled in the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois.

The Jeep Cherokee has consistently ranked in the top 10 of Cars.com’s ‘American-Made Index’.

Essentially this index ranks vehicles in order of how ‘American’ they really are, taking into consideration where parts are sourced from and where the vehicle and its components are assembled.

In 2020, the Cherokee secured second place, with the Ford Ranger (Wayne, Michigan) taking first and the Tesla Model S (Fremont, California) getting third.

In collaboration with GAC through a joint venture agreement, Cherokees have also been produced in China since 2015 for overseas markets.

How Can You Check Where a Specific Cherokee Was Produced?

Based on our research, Jeep has historically used the code “1” in the first position of the vehicle identification number (VIN) of a Cherokee to identify the model as made in the US.

The VIN is a code that is exclusive to your Cherokee. No two Cherokees share the same VIN.

The VIN is used by carmakers and aftersales personnel to keep track of the following information:

Country of origin
Repair history
Parts compatibility
Owner

The VIN of your Cherokee should be located on the front-left portion of your dashboard, visible through the windshield from the outside.

Alternatively, you can ask the vendor or dealership for the Cherokee’s country of origin.

Are Japanese-built Jeep Cherokees Better than European-built Jeep Cherokees?

Jeep Cherokees have never been produced or assembled in either Japan or Europe.

It would be impossible to make a distinction between the two.

Where is the Jeep Cherokee Designed?

The Jeep Cherokee was designed by Greg Howell, chief designer and primary proponent of the Cherokee’s design since its third generation. The drafts and final designs were developed in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

The third generation Cherokee was known internationally as the “Cherokee” but in the US, the badge was transformed to “Liberty” to give way to the introduction of the flagship model Grand Cherokee.

In 2014, the fifth-generation Cherokee returned to its original name designation in the US.

The model was initially met with controversy due to its futuristic look and the front portion of the SUV, specifically the grille.

Where are the Cherokees Made for the Australian Market?

The Jeep Cherokees currently offered in Australia originate from the Changsha Assembly Plant in China.

This decision was made to cut down on shipping time and overall costs.

As of this year, the current offering of Jeep models in Australia are the following:

Cherokee
Grand Cherokee
Wrangler
Compass
Gladiator

Where are the Cherokees Made for the Canadian Market?

Based on our research, there is no definitive answer as to where the Cherokees for the Canadian market were manufactured.

Geographically, we can surmise that the Cherokees for the Canadian market are made in North America.

The current line-up of Jeep models in Canada are the following:

Cherokee
Grand Cherokee
Grand Cherokee L
Compass
Renegade
Wrangler
Gladiator

Where are Cherokees Made for the UK Market?

Currently, Jeep UK does not offer the Jeep Cherokee locally.

UK, along with 39 neighboring countries in Europe, has contributed to making the continent the top location for most Jeep selling countries. This figure represents roughly half of the total number of countries where Jeep models are officially offered.

As of this year, the current offering of Jeep models in the UK are the following:

Wrangler
Renegade
Renegade 4xe
Compass

If you would like to acquire a Cherokee in the UK, then you may try checking with your local dealerships to see if they would allow an indent order or importation of the model.

Is Jeep Planning to Move its Production of Cherokees?

Stellantis, the current owner of Jeep, has made no official claims pertaining to the transfer of production lines for the Cherokees.

Both the Belvidere Assembly Plant and the Changsha Assembly Plant have been strong production facilities for the fifth generation Cherokee since 2017 and 2015, respectively.

However, it must be noted that in its efforts to strengthen its global visibility, Jeep will be investing in its manufacturing plant in India to produce more models for overseas markets.

The Cherokee was not officially included in the list of SUVs to be produced in expansion efforts in India.

Is Jeep Hiring or Firing in the US?

Our research has led us to several job vacancies and opportunities for Jeep through its parent company, Stellantis N.V.

To find these postings, you can check online at LinkedIn, Indeed.com, and Glassdoor.

It must be noted, however, that news has recently surfaced regarding the indefinite lay off of 150 employees in Jeep’s Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois.

These layoffs were made to restructure and rebalance roles to realign responsibilities with the increasing demand for Jeep in the global automotive market.

Is Jeep an American Company?

Jeep is still largely an American company and is one of the most recognizable American brands in the world.

Jeep is currently owned by Stellantis N.V., a business entity that is the direct result of a merger between American company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the PSA group, based in France.

The Cherokee has had its production and assembly locations changed throughout the years, but a significant quantity of Cherokee units are still made in the US.

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Author:

Ian Sawyer

Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...

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