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A pickup truck based on the Jeep Wrangler is under development and should arrive on the market by 2017 or 2018.

According to Automotive News, production of the Wrangler will stay in Toledo, Ohio, which is also where Jeep will be building a new pickup truck based on the Wrangler. The fate of Wrangler production has been up in the air for nearly a year, but today Jeep execs revealed these plans to plant management. They also revealed that production of the Cherokee will be leaving Ohio for a nearby State, likely Michigan or Illinois.

Details on the Jeep Wrangler pickup truck are still unknown, besides the fact that it will be based on the next-generation Wrangler which will use some aluminum parts to cut weight while it will also likely adopt a diesel and or a small turbocharged gasoline motor to get good fuel economy ratings. It is likely that the truck will be a midsize to compete with the new Chevy Colorado along with the redesigned Toyota Tacoma.

SEE ALSO: Next-Gen Jeep Wrangler Stays ‘True to its Current Form’

A modern Jeep Wrangler pickup was teased back in 2005 with the Gladiator concept (seen above) though that truck was based off the larger Ram 1500 frame.

Having a new pickup to build in Toledo will help to negate the loss of the Cherokee, which is Jeep’s best-selling vehicle. Combined, FCA wants the redesigned 2018 Wrangler along with the pickup to move 350,000 units a year.

[Source: Automotive News]

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