Beijing Benz-Chrysler Jeep 2700

This is for the American readers, who will hopefully see the irony in this, and laugh. Then sigh. China’s first official modern joint venture produced the Jeep Cherokee, under licence. 

This happened before VW established itself in China. Yes, the Jeep deal was an AMC deal.

You know, the Cherokee SUV: an undefeated symbol of American pragmatism and survival, refined from generations of off-road vehicles to be a uniquely go-anywhere machine, equally at home in the suburbs, in the wilds of Moab, Utah…or in the Beijing garage parking spot of an upper middle class family’s apartment.

Cherokee: the one they still talk about.

Cherokee: the good ol’ boy that thrived abroad.

In North America, it remained in production from 1983 until 2001, making it a long-lived legend. 

In China, however, it remained in production at a particular location long enough to become Mercedes-Benz’ problem. In fact, this facility and joint venture only recently resolved itself in a big way…