Government rules have always affected the car business. The California Air Resources Board (CARB), which is in the U.S., has significantly impacted this topic many times. With CARB rules in place, the Ford Bronco might sell more than the Jeep Wrangler. The Drive has said before that companies must start making a certain number of zero-emission cars by 2026. According to these rules, companies like Ford are judged by how well they sell across the country. On the other hand, Stellantis only gets paid when cars are sold in the 14 states that follow CARB rules. Stellantis stopped sending cars without electric motors to dealers in these states before the move, which has increased the numbers. Automotive News says that this is making things hard for Jeep sellers. People in CARB states can still order Stellantis cars that aren’t hybrids but aren’t always on dealer lots. For Jeep, these were the only hybrid Wrangler 4xe versions that dealers could buy. When a customer needs a gas truck immediately, Jeep sellers don’t know what to sell them. Ford sellers don’t have to deal with these problems, so they may keep many Broncos in stock. Because of the strange situation, the Bronco may sell more than the Wrangler. Sales of the Bronco grew by 38% in the first quarter of 2023, reaching 32,430 units. On the other hand, Wrangler orders fell 17% to 37,971. With only 6,000 cars between them, the Bronco might soon pass the Jeep Wrangler as America’s most popular convertible adventure SUV. Ivan Drury, an analyst at Edmunds, told Automotive News that supply was one of the most essential things for sales. “Having cars on the lot is the curb appeal we talk about,” says Drury. “It’s so important to have a variety to show a customer.” But Jeep’s situation isn’t all bad. Brian Moody, a Kelley Blue Book analyst, says many customers are happy to order a car straight from the maker. In any case, it means that Jeep sellers in states with CARB need to do more work. It can be hard to explain when a customer asks why the store doesn’t sell cars that only run on gasoline. Drury pointed out that it makes the sales process harder than it needs to be and can be very confusing. In the long run, the problem will only harm more clients. Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, and Virginia want to meet CARB guidelines immediately. Also, it’s essential to know that the CARB rules about how many zero-emission cars can be sold won’t take effect until 2026. Stellantis is just starting to get ahead of the curve for strategic reasons. The problem is easy to understand right now. If you live in a CARB state and want an off-road car that is not a hybrid right now? Most likely, you’re leaving in a Bronco. A Jeep dealer will be happy to help if you can wait a little longer or choose a hybrid car.
