2005-2011 Grand Cherokee production dates & milestones |
2003 |
February 2003 | Manual assembly begins of test model WK's, "Job#0". |
July 2003 | First "spy" shots of a camouflaged WK appear on the internet |
October 22, 2003 | Official launch of the "Trail Rated" campaign, new badges designed for all 2004 and 2005 model year Jeeps. |
November, 2003 | First unmasked images of the new Grand Cherokee come across a fax machine, leaking out to a Jeep enthusiast. Images are kept under wraps for two months before appearing on the internet. |
November 16, 2003 | WK mock-up previewed to selected dealers and members of the press. DCX confirms that the new Grand Cherokee will be on sale in October of 2004. |
December 2003 | WK mock-up previewed to selected DCX salaried employees and members of the press |
2004 |
January, 2004 | First uncovered images of the WK appear on the internet |
April 7, 2004 | WK world premiere for the Press at the NY Auto Show |
April 9, 2004 | WK world premiere for the public at the NY Auto Show |
May 21, 2004 | The last WJ Grand Cherokee rolls off the assembly lines. The Jefferson North plant closes for approximately 2 months to retool for the all-new WK model. |
June 03, 2004 | Chrysler displays for the first time the 2006 "Commander" Jeep at a stock analyst's meeting in Frankfurt, Germany |
June 14, 2004 | Initial dealer order date for the 2005 Grand Cherokee. |
July 26, 2004 | All new 2005 "WK" Grand Cherokee production start-up (Job#1). |
August 17, 2004 | New Press release and new WK photos issued for upcoming launch |
August 25, 2004 | Manufacturing Launch of All-New 2005 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, celebration includes live simulcast from the Jefferson North Assembly Plant |
August 2004 | QC testing begins for WK final production models |
September 16, 2004 | 2005 Grand Cherokees released for shipment to dealers |
September 19, 2004 | All new 2005 "WK" Grand Cherokee start arriving in dealer showrooms |
October 21, 2004 | 2005 Grand Cherokee national premiere night at dealerships |
2005 |
February, 2005 | First 2006 WK Grand Cherokee volume production pilot models are built at Jefferson North, including the Laredo, Limited Overland and SRT8 models. |
February, 2005 | First 2006 XK Commander volume production pilot models are built at Jefferson North. |
March 2005 | 2005 Grand Cherokee "WH" export model premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show |
March 7, 2005 | 2005 Grand Cherokee "WH" export model volume production startup for 4.7L and 5.7L models (Job #1) |
March 18, 2005 | 2006 Grand Cherokee SRT8 world premiere, Live with Regis and Kelly show, New York. |
March 23, 2005 | 2006 Jeep Commander world premiere, New York International Auto Show |
March 23, 2005 | 2006 Grand Cherokee SRT8 introduction, New York International Auto Show |
May 2, 2005 | 2005 Grand Cherokee "WH" export model volume production startup for 3.0 V6 CRD models (Job #1) |
July 1, 2005 | 2005 WK Grand Cherokee final day of production (Buildout) |
July 5, 2005 | 2006 WK Grand Cherokee production launch |
July 18, 2005 | 2006 "XK" Commander production launch |
September 2005 | Sales introduction for the 2006 WK and XK models |
September 12, 2005 | World premiere of the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot concept models at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA) |
November 5, 2005 | Production launch for the 2006 Grand Cherokee SRT8 models |
November 7, 2005 | Order banks open for the 2006 Grand Cherokee SRT8 models |
December 23, 2005 | 2005 Grand Cherokee "WH" export model production end (Buildout) |
December, 2005 | First Grand Cherokee SRT8 models begin arriving to dealers |
2006 |
January 9, 2006 | Start of production for 2006 WH Grand Cherokee export models |
January 16, 2006 | Start of production for 2006 XH Commander export models |
April, 2006 | 2006 Jeep 65th anniversary models released |
April, 2006 | On-sale date for the european export models of the Jeep Commander |
April 12, 2006 | World premiere of production versions of the Jeep Compass and Patriot at the NY Auto Show |
May 30, 2006 | Start of production for the 2007 Jeep Compass |
June 30, 2006 | End of production for 2006 WK and XK models |
July, 2006 | On-sale date for the european export models of the Grand Cherokee SRT8 |
July 17, 2006 | Start of production for 2007 WK and XK models |
September 1, 2008 | Sales introduction for the 2007 WK and XK models |
October 13, 2006 | End of production for 2006 WH Grand Cherokee and WK Commander export models |
2007 |
February 22, 2007 | Start of North American production for the 2007 WK Grand Cherokee CRD diesel |
April 4, 2007 | World debut of the 2008 Grand Cherokee models at the New York Auto Show |
July 13, 2007 | End of production for 2007 WK Grand Cherokee and XK Commander models |
July 16, 2007 | Start of production for refreshed 2008 WK Grand Cherokee and XK Commander models |
September 1, 2007 | Sales introduction for the 2008 WK and XK models |
2008 |
2008 | Start of virtual engineering for the next generation 2011-2016 Grand Cherokees (WK2) |
July 11, 2008 | End of production for 2008 WK Grand Cherokee and XK Commander models |
August 11, 2008 | Start of North American production for the 2009 WK Grand Cherokee (delayed from July 14th) |
September 2008 | Sales introduction for the 2009 WK and XK models |
September 2008 | S0 pilot testing for the new WK2 Grand Cherokee |
November 24, 2008 | End of production for the north american 3.0L diesel engine (2008.5 model year) |
2009 |
January 2009 | Initial WK2 testing phase begins at Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills (impact and performance tests). |
April 8, 2009 | World debut for the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee, New York Auto Show. |
August 17, 2009 | Start of North American production for the 2010 WK Grand Cherokee and Commander XK |
September 1, 2009 | Sales introduction for the 2010 WK and XK models |
2010 |
March 12, 2010 | End of production for the 2010 Grand Cherokee, final model year of the third generation |
March-May 2010 | Jefferson North Assembly plant shutdown for a major plant renovation and upgrade, in preparation for the launch of the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee |
May 10, 2010 | Start of production for the all-new 4th generation 2011 Grand Cherokee |