Bugs Squashed: Dodge and Jeep Ship First EVs After Software Fixes

Stellantis recently had to delay the launches of new EVs from Jeep and Dodge due to software problems. The automaker appears to have squashed whatever bugs it found, however, as the first shipment of Dodge Charger Daytonas and Jeep Wagoneer S EVs are on their way to dealers’ lots, though the earliest arrivals will be from Dodge.

Dodge CEO Matt McAlear and Bob Broderdorf, head of Jeep, confirmed the development, though the Wagoneer S is taking longer to arrive due to having to clear and ship from the Toluca, Mexico factory. Interestingly, the delay means that the units arriving now will be sold as 2024 models.

The delays were overwhelmingly due to software problems, not hardware-related concerns. McAlear told The Detroit News that the Charger was pushed back because “90 percent plus, 95 percent plus, was all getting the software right,” saying that the car’s hardware design had been long settled.

Broderdorf said that 100 percent of the Wagoneer S’ delay stemmed from software issues. “Mechanically the car is sound, it’s the software (that is a challenge) on these electric cars – and that is probably part of our learning, or at least my education. How much is actually tied to software is ‘Wow,’” he noted. Broderdorf also said that he was aware that Jeep has been slow to reach the market with electric models, but he stressed that rushing the Wagoneer S would have been a big mistake.

[Images: Jeep, Dodge]

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