The Jeep Dilemma: Inventory Surplus, Soaring Prices, and What it Means for Buyers

Jeep sales are slipping in 2024. Yes, the brand known for all-terrain traction is having a really hard time keeping up in today’s new car market. Inventory is piling up, 2023 models remain unsold, and yet, prices are soaring higher than ever. It seems that Jeep has plunged headlong into a sales crisis, leaving their brand new vehicles gathering dust on dealer lots.

At CarEdge, we’re all about empowering car buyers to take control of their deal. If you’re in the market for a new or used Jeep, you won’t want to miss this one. For the savvy Jeep fan, major savings could be on the horizon. Let’s dive in.

Jeep Inventory: Why It Matters

Inventory is the lifeblood of the car industry, and Jeep is no exception. An abundance of cars on the lot can indicate slow sales, creating an environment where buyers could potentially nab themselves an attractive deal. Simply put, it’s a buyer’s market when there’s too much inventory. That’s generally the case for any product, but it’s especially true for automakers as 2024 models pile on to dealer lots.

Jeep Inventory Is Through the Roof

This year, however, it appears that Jeep has been having a hard time selling their cars. 2024 model-year inventory is through the roof, and last year’s cars are still in need of an owner. It’s amazing how much 2023 inventory Jeep still needs to sell, with nearly 48,000 new 2023 models on dealer lots nationwide. Shockingly, Jeep still has 2,000 new 2022 models that remain unsold.

But let’s look deeper into the data. The Market Day Supply (MDS), the measure of how long it would take to sell all current inventory at the current sales rate, can provide critical insights into the state of sales. Right now, Jeep’s MDS dominates the list of the new cars with the most inventory. This is an alarming sign that Jeeps are spending far too much time on lots before finding a home.

Here’s a quick breakdown of every Jeep model’s inventory:

It’s clear that the Renegade, Cherokee, Compass, Gladiator and Grand Wagoneer are struggling the most with high MDS and large amounts of inventory still unsold, but they’re not outliers. All Jeep models aside from the Wrangler Unlimited have over 100 day supply right now. 

In the auto industry, a market day supply of 60 to 70 days is considered ‘healthy’. Jeep’s inventory has a high fever right now, and the only remedy is to sell cars soon.

For comparison’s sake, here are the ten new car models with the highest inventory right now.

Still not convinced it’s that bad? Here are the new cars with the lowest inventory. Note that this list is the result of both high sales volumes AND low production numbers for some automakers.

Stellantis, Where Are the Incentives?!

Despite these alarming figures, Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, remains undeterred. In fact, it appears that they are doubling down on their strategy of ‘price high, hope for the best’. The average transaction price for a Jeep is now $53,913. For the first time ever, Jeep buyers are more likely to pay luxury prices than anything remotely resembling the sub-$40,000 prices of yesteryear. 

And Stellantis is all-in on luxury pricing. The critically-acclaimed Jeep Grand Wagoneer starts with an MSRP north of $60,000, with most on the lot going for well over $75,000. A quick glance at CarEdge Car Search shows that even a humble Wrangler Unlimited is likely to cost you north of $50,000. See for yourself.

When it comes to an automaker’s #1 way to sell cars, Stellantis seems to be neglecting the Jeep brand. That would be incentives. Or in Jeep’s case, the lack thereof. 

We track manufacturer incentives monthly, and it couldn’t be more clear that Jeep’s parent company is in no hurry to move inventory. Despite dominating the Top 10 list for the most inventory, Jeep is nowhere to be seen on the list of best incentives this month. You’d think there would be a correlation there. Not so!

Dealers Make Matters Worse

To make matters worse, Jeep dealers have become notorious for making customers jump through hoops to get a fair price. We’ve recently seen $100,000+ Jeeps, and an abundance of bait and switch dealer pricing.

Here’s one of many examples that car buyers have shared on the CarEdge Community Forum. This Jeep dealer in Florida adds several thousand dollars in pointless fees to the already sky-high sticker price:

On top of the B.S. ‘Naples Advantage’ fee, there’s a $1,198 doc fee. That’s because Florida is one of the only states that doesn’t put a limit on doc fees, and dealers love taking advantage of that. Yup, over $1,000 to ‘file the paperwork’.

It is abundantly clear that Jeep dealer pricing is reliant on unaware, unsavvy car buyers who will pay the sticker price without hesitation. Fortunately, the car buyer in this example was a CarEdge member, and knew how to push back against B.S. dealer ripoffs.

This reliance on consumers’ lack of awareness doesn’t just reflect poorly on the dealers – it’s a black mark on Jeep itself. Jeep, it’s time to take better care of your customers!

Harness the Power of Data to Negotiate Jeeps Today

Unlike car buyers in decades past, you now have a powerful tool at your disposal: information. Knowledge is power in negotiation, and these high inventory numbers reveal a potentially golden opportunity. For the prepared and knowledgeable buyer, Jeeps will become increasingly negotiable in 2024. But as we’ve seen, don’t expect dealers to be giving out great deals. You’ll almost certainly have to work for it.

Our CarEdge Car Coaches understand this and are ready to help you save thousands on your next vehicle. They know that the first step in getting a good deal is understanding the market conditions. Our team of experts is ready to help you identify savings opportunities, no matter what new or used car you’re in the market for.

Looking for DIY car buying help? Our CarEdge Data plan is just for you. Using behind-the-scenes market insights and the data goldmine found in every CarEdge Report, you’ll be equipped with insider tools to save you big-time. 

In summary, be savvy, do your research, and don’t be afraid to walk away if the deal isn’t right. It’s a great time to be a Jeep buyer—if you know what you’re doing. Dealers might be playing hardball, but you can play the game too. And now, you have the data to back you up.