When Jeep's redesigned 2018 JL Wrangler went on sale this year, the off-roader came with something none of its predecessors had at launch: a line of more than 200 factory-built accessories for dealerships to sell.
The expanded lineup of Jeep performance parts for the JL Wrangler includes favorites, such as a two-inch suspension lift kit and Warn winch, as well as new offerings made for the JL Wrangler, including a roof rack and a tailgate table.
The smorgasbord of accessories from Mopar, FCA's in-house parts and service brand, result from hard lessons learned in the wake of Chrysler's 2009 bankruptcy.
When Fiat took over the U.S. automaker, Mopar head Pietro Gorlier quickly noticed that aftermarket suppliers dominated the estimated $6 billion annual market for Wrangler accessories — the largest accessories market for any SUV, according to the Specialty Equipment Market Association — leaving Mopar with table scraps.
Gorlier launched an effort to develop a line of Wrangler accessories in-house. When sold by a dealership, these accessories could be ordered installed from the factory or could be installed by the dealership and financed as part of the vehicle loan. And because the Mopar accessories were factory-authorized, they keep the vehicle's factory warranty intact.
Gorlier said last year that "98 percent of Wrangler vehicles are customized with at least one product from the Mopar portfolio," and that Mopar has worked with Wrangler owners to develop accessories for the off-roader.