The Cherokee Nation reportedly wants Jeep to stop using its name on their vehicles, saying “it does not honor us by having our name plastered on the side of a car” according to the New York Post.
The Post notes that Carlos Tavares, the CEO of newly formed auto conglomerate Stellantis, suggest he’s open to changing the names, but also argues that naming cars after indigenous tribes has been a way of showing respect.
“I don’t see anything that would be negative here,” he told the Journal. “I think it’s just a matter of expressing our creative passion, our artistic capabilities.”
Regarding discussions being had with the Cherokee Nation that started last month, Tavares did say:
“At this stage, I don’t know if there is a real problem,” he added, noting that he is not personally involved in the talks with the tribe. “But if there is one, well, of course we will solve it.”
In other words he’ll cave. They always do, just ask Daniel Snyder, who once vowed he would never drop the ‘Redskins’ emblem/mascot from the team.
If Tavares doesn’t cave, the Cherokee Nation will be forced to get their big gun involved: Big Chief Elizabeth Pocahontas Warren.
Personally I think the whole thing is silly. It does no harm to the Cherokee Nation for Jeep to use the name, and they’ve been using the name for decades and there’s never been a problem until now apparently.