Dodge Journey will soldier on until at least 2018 – report

A source within Fiat Chrysler (FCA) has told Automotive News that the Journey will keep its JC platform code at least until the US 2018 model year, production of which is slated to begin at the end of July 2017.

Under a 2014 plan, the Journey was due for a new generation model during the third quarter of 2016. This new model would have been based on the company's CUSW platform, which is also used for the Jeep Cherokee, Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200.

In January this year, FCA boss Sergio Marchionne announced that company would look to phase out both the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 due to poor sales, high incentives and low profitability. The company is now seeking a partner to help it produce and develop future entrants for the small and mid-size markets.

For now, FCA is planning on ensuring that most of its US production output is given over to the highly profitable Jeep SUV range and Ram truck lineup, leaving no space for an all-new Journey in the short term. Compounding issues, the Journey is, despite its age, selling better than now than ever before.

The Journey was launched in the States in late 2007. If it makes it through to 2018, the crossover wagon will comfortably exceed the industry norm of five to seven year model cycles.

In the US, sales of the Journey have actually increased steadily year-on-year. During 2008, its first full year on sale, Chrysler shipped 47,097 Journeys. In 2015, the Journey broke through the 100,000 barrier for the first time, notching up 105,400 sales.

In Australia, sales of the Journey have increased steadily from 2009, when 603 walked out the door, to a peak in 2013, when 1661 found new homes. Last year, sales fell back to 1184.

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