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Jeep is an American automobile
marque A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...
, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Motors Corporation (AMC). Jeep's current product range consists solely of
sport utility vehicle A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive. There is no commonly agreed-upon defini ...
s – both crossovers and fully off-road worthy SUVs and models, including one pickup truck. Previously, Jeep's range included other pick-ups, as well as small vans, and a few
roadsters __NOTOC__ Roadster may refer to: Transportation * Roadster (automobile), an open, two-seat, often sporty car ** Roadster utility, an automobile with an open-topped roadster body and a rear cargo bed * Roadster (bicycle), a utilitarian bicycle, t ...
. Some of Jeep's vehicles—such as the
Grand Cherokee The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-size SUVs produced by the American manufacturer Jeep. At its introduction, while most SUVs were still manufactured with body-on-frame construction, the Grand Cherokee has used a unibody chassis from the ...
—reach into the luxury SUV segment, a
market segment In marketing, market segmentation is the process of dividing a broad consumer or business market, normally consisting of existing and potential customers, into sub-groups of consumers (known as ''segments'') based on some type of shared charact ...
the 1963 Wagoneer is considered to have started. Jeep sold 1.4 million SUVs globally in 2016, up from 500,000 in 2008, two-thirds of which in North America, and was Fiat-Chrysler's best selling brand in the U.S. during the first half of 2017. In the U.S. alone, over 2400 dealerships hold franchise rights to sell Jeep-branded vehicles, and if Jeep were spun off into a separate company, it is estimated to be worth between $22 and $33.5 billion—slightly ''more'' than all of FCA (US). Christian Meunier is the current
President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
of the Jeep brand worldwide. Prior to 1940 the term "jeep" had been used as U.S. Army slang for new recruits or vehicles, but the World War II "jeep" that went into production in 1941 specifically tied the name to this light military 4x4, arguably making them the oldest four-wheel drive mass-production vehicles now known as
SUV A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive. There is no commonly agreed-upon definiti ...
s. The Jeep became the primary light 4-wheel-drive vehicle of the
United States Armed Forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...
and the Allies during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, as well as the postwar period. The term became common worldwide in the wake of the war. Doug Stewart noted: "The spartan, cramped, and unstintingly functional jeep became the ubiquitous World War II four-wheeled personification of
Yankee ingenuity Yankee ingenuity is a self-made stereotype of inventiveness, technical solutions to practical problems, "know-how", self-reliance and individual enterprise associated with the Yankees, who originated in New England and developed much of the indu ...
and cocky, can-do determination." It is the precursor of subsequent generations of
military light utility vehicle Military light utility vehicle, or simply light utility vehicle, (LUV), is a term used for the lightest weight class military vehicle category. A Jeep-like four-wheel drive vehicle for military use by definition lighter than other military trucks ...
s such as the
Humvee The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ...
, and inspired the creation of civilian analogs such as the original Series I Land Rover. Many Jeep variants serving similar military and civilian roles have since been designed in other nations. The Jeep marque has been headquartered in
Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
, ever since Willys–Overland launched production of the first CJ or Civilian Jeep branded models there in 1945. Its replacement, the conceptually consistent
Jeep Wrangler The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986 and is currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was revealed in late 2017 and is produ ...
series, remains in production since 1986. With its solid axles and open top, the Wrangler has been called the Jeep model that is as central to the brand's identity as the
911 911 or 9/11 may refer to: Dates * AD 911 * 911 BC * September 11 ** 9/11, the September 11 attacks of 2001 ** 11 de Septiembre, Chilean coup d'état in 1973 that outed the democratically elected Salvador Allende * November 9 Numbers * 91 ...
is to Porsche. At least two Jeep models (the CJ-5 and the SJ Wagoneer) enjoyed extraordinary three-decade production runs of a single body generation. In lowercase, the term "jeep" continues to be used as a
generic term Trademark distinctiveness is an important concept in the law governing trademarks and service marks. A trademark may be eligible for registration, or registrable, if it performs the essential trademark function, and has distinctive character. Re ...
for vehicles inspired by the Jeep that are suitable for use on rough terrain. In Iceland, the word Jeppi (derived from Jeep) has been used since WWII and is still used for any type of SUV.


World War II Jeeps


Development – 1. Bantam Reconnaissance Car

When it became clear that the United States would be involved in the European theater of
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
, the Army contacted 135 companies to create working prototypes of a four-wheel drive reconnaissance car. Only two companies responded: American Bantam Car Company and
Willys-Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs) ...
. The Army set a seemingly impossible deadline of 49 days to supply a working prototype. Willys asked for more time, but was refused.
American Bantam The American Bantam Car Company was an American automobile manufacturing company incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania. American Bantam is credited with the invention of the Original Jeep in 1940. The company's founders, Roy Evans and Willia ...
had only a small staff with nobody to draft the vehicle plans, so chief engineer Harold Crist hired Karl Probst, a talented freelance designer from Detroit. After turning down Bantam's initial request, Probst responded to an Army request and began work on July 17, 1940, initially without salary. Probst drafted the full plans in just two days for the Bantam prototype known as the BRC or Bantam Reconnaissance Car, working up a cost estimate the next day. Bantam's bid was submitted on July 22, complete with blueprints. Much of the vehicle could be assembled from off-the-shelf automotive parts, and custom four-wheel drivetrain components were to be supplied by Spicer. The hand-built prototype was completed in
Butler, Pennsylvania Butler is a city and the county seat of Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located north of Pittsburgh and is part of the Greater Pittsburgh region. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 13,502. History Butler was n ...
and driven to
Camp Holabird Fort Holabird was a United States Army post in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, active from 1918 to 1973. History Fort Holabird was located in the southeast corner of Baltimore and northwest of the suburban developments of Dundalk, Maryland, in s ...
,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
on September 23 for Army testing. The vehicle met all the Army's criteria except engine torque.


Development – 2. Willys and Ford

The Army thought that the Bantam company lacked the production capacity to manufacture and deliver the required number of vehicles, so it supplied the Bantam design to
Willys Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...
and
Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...
, and encouraged them to enhance the design. The resulting Ford "Pygmy" and Willys "Quad" prototypes looked very similar to the Bantam BRC prototype, and Spicer supplied very similar four-wheel drivetrain components to all three manufacturers. 1,500 of each model (Bantam BRC-40, Ford GP, and Willys MA) were built and extensively field-tested. After the weight specification was revised from to a maximum of including oil and water, Willys-Overland's chief engineer Delmar "Barney" Roos modified the design in order to use Willys's heavy but powerful " Go Devil" engine, and won the initial production contract. The Willys version became the standard jeep design, designated the model MB, and was built at their plant in
Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
. The familiar pressed-metal Jeep grille was a Ford design feature and incorporated in the final design by the Army. Because the US War Department required a large number of vehicles in a short time, Willys-Overland granted the US Government a non-exclusive license to allow another company to manufacture vehicles using Willys' specifications. The Army chose Ford as a second supplier, building Jeeps to the Willys' design. Willys supplied Ford with a complete set of plans and specifications. American Bantam, the creators of the first Jeep, built approximately 2,700 of them to the BRC-40 design, but spent the rest of the war building heavy-duty trailers for the Army.


Full production – Willys MB and Ford GPW

Final production version jeeps built by Willys-Overland were the Model MB, while those built by Ford were the Model GPW (''G'' = government vehicle, ''P'' = 80"
wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...
, ''W'' = Willys engine design). There were subtle differences between the two. The versions produced by Ford had every component (including bolt heads) marked with an "F", and early on Ford also stamped their name in large letters in their trademark script, embossed in the rear panel of their jeeps. Willys followed the Ford pattern by stamping 'Willys' into several body parts, but the U.S. government objected to this practice, and both parties stopped this in 1942. In spite of persistent advertising by both car and component manufacturers of contributions to the production of successful jeeps during the war, no "Jeep"-branded vehicles were built until the 1945 Willys CJ-2A. The cost per vehicle trended upwards as the war continued from the price under the first contract from Willys at US$648.74 (Ford's was $782.59 per unit). Willys-Overland and Ford, under the direction of Charles E. Sorensen (vice-president of Ford during World War II), produced about 640,000 Jeeps towards the war effort, which accounted for approximately 18% of all the wheeled military vehicles built in the U.S. during the war. Jeeps were used by every service of the U.S. military. An average of 145 were supplied to every Army infantry regiment. Jeeps were used for many purposes, including cable laying,
sawmilling A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes (dimensi ...
, as firefighting pumpers, field ambulances, tractors, and, with suitable wheels, would run on railway tracks. An amphibious jeep, the model GPA, or "seep" (Sea Jeep) was built for Ford in modest numbers, but it could not be considered a success as it was neither a good off-road vehicle nor a good boat. As part of the war effort, nearly 30% of all Jeep production was supplied to
Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It i ...
and to the
Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nation ...
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army ( Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and, afte ...
.


Post-war military Jeeps

The Jeep has been widely imitated around the world, including in France by
Delahaye Delahaye was a family-owned automobile manufacturing company, founded by Émile Delahaye in 1894 in Tours, France. Manufacturing was moved to Paris following incorporation with two unrelated brothers-in-law as equal partners in 1898. The compa ...
and by
Hotchkiss et Cie Société Anonyme des Anciens Etablissements Hotchkiss et Compagnie was a French arms and, in the 20th century, automobile manufacturer first established by United States gunsmith Benjamin B. Hotchkiss. He moved to France and set up a factory, ...
(after 1954, Hotchkiss manufactured Jeeps under license from Willys), and in Japan by
Mitsubishi Motors is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.Toyota is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
. The
Land Rover Land Rover is a British brand of predominantly four-wheel drive, off-road capable vehicles, owned by multinational car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), since 2008 a subsidiary of India's Tata Motors. JLR currently builds Land Rovers ...
was inspired by the Jeep. The utilitarian good looks of the original Jeep have been hailed by industrial designers and museum curators alike. The
Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...
described the Jeep as a masterpiece of functionalist design and has periodically exhibited the Jeep as part of its collection. Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent
Ernie Pyle Ernest Taylor Pyle (August 3, 1900 – April 18, 1945) was a Pulitzer Prize–winning American journalist and war correspondent who is best known for his stories about ordinary American soldiers during World War II. Pyle is also notable for the ...
called the jeep, along with the Coleman G.I. Pocket Stove, "the two most important pieces of noncombat equipment ever developed." Jeeps became even more famous following the war, as they became available on the surplus market. Some ads claimed to offer "Jeeps still in the factory crate." This legend persisted for decades, despite the fact that Jeeps were never shipped from the factory in crates (although Ford did "knock down" Jeeps for easier shipping, which may have perpetuated the myth). The ''
Jeepney Jeepneys (), sometimes called jeeps (), are minibus-like public transportation, public utility vehicles, serving as the most popular means of Transportation in the Philippines, public transportation in the Philippines. They are known for their ...
'' is a unique type of taxi or bus created in the
Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...
. The first Jeepneys were military-surplus MBs and GPWs, left behind in the war-ravaged country following World War II and Filipino independence. Jeepneys were built from Jeeps by lengthening and widening the rear "tub" of the vehicle, allowing them to carry more passengers. Over the years, Jeepneys have become the most ubiquitous symbol of the modern Philippines, even as they have been decorated in more elaborate and flamboyant styles by their owners. Most Jeepneys today are scratch-built by local manufacturers, using different powertrains. Aside from Jeepneys, backyard assemblers in the Philippines construct replica Jeeps with stainless steel bodies and surplus parts, and are called "owner-type jeeps" (as jeepneys are also called "passenger-type jeeps"). In the United States military, the Jeep has been supplanted by a number of vehicles (e.g. Ford's M151) of which the latest is the
Humvee The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ...
.


CJ-V35/U

After World War II, Jeep began to experiment with new designs, including a model that could drive underwater. On February 1, 1950, contract N8ss-2660 was approved for 1,000 units "especially adapted for general reconnaissance or command communications" and "constructed for short period underwater operation such as encountered in landing and fording operations." The engine was modified with a snorkel system so that the engine could properly breathe underwater.


M715

In 1965, Jeep developed the
M715 The G-890 Truck, -ton, 4×4, Kaiser Jeep M715, sometimes called the "Five quarter (ton)", for its ton payload rating, is an American light military truck, based on the civilian Jeep Gladiator (SJ). Design and development for the M715 began in 19 ...
army truck, a militarized version of the civilian J-series Jeep truck, which served extensively in the
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...
. It had heavier full-floating axles and a foldable, vertical, flat windshield. Today, it serves other countries and is still being produced by
Kia Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
under license.


Jeep etymology

Many explanations of the origin of the word ''jeep'' have proven difficult to verify. The most widely held theory is that the military designation ''GP'' (for ''Government Purposes'' or ''General Purpose'') was slurred into the word ''Jeep'' in the same way that the contemporary ''HMMWV'' (for ''High-Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle'') has become known as the
Humvee The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ...
. Joe Frazer,
Willys-Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs) ...
President from 1939 to 1944, claimed to have coined the word ''jeep'' by slurring the initials G.P. There are no contemporaneous uses of "GP" before later attempts to create a "''backronym.''" A more detailed view, popularized by R. Lee Ermey on his television series ''
Mail Call ''Mail Call'' is a television program that aired on the History Channel. It was hosted by R. Lee Ermey, a retired United States Marine Corps staff sergeant and honorary gunnery sergeant. The show debuted on August 4, 2002 as part of the "Fightin ...
'', disputes this "slurred GP" origin, saying that the vehicle was designed for specific duties, and was never referred to as "General Purpose" and it is highly unlikely that the average jeep-driving GI would have been familiar with this designation. The Ford GPW abbreviation actually meant G for government use, P to designate its
wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...
and W to indicate its Willys-Overland designed engine. Ermey suggests that soldiers at the time were so impressed with the new vehicles that they informally named it after
Eugene the Jeep Eugene the Jeep is a character in the ''Popeye'' comic strip. A mysterious animal with magical or supernatural abilities, the Jeep first appeared in the March 16, 1936 ''Thimble Theatre'' comic strip (now simply ''Popeye''). He was also presen ...
, a character in the ''
Thimble Theatre Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.E. C. Segar Elzie Crisler Segar (; December 8, 1894 – October 13, 1938), known by the pen name E. C. Segar, was an American cartoonist best known as the creator of Popeye, a pop culture character who first appeared in 1929 in Segar's comic strip ''Thimble ...
, as early as mid-March 1936. Eugene the Jeep was Popeye's "jungle pet" and was "small, able to move between dimensions and could solve seemingly impossible problems." The word "jeep" however, was used as early as World War I, as U.S. Army slang for new uninitiated recruits, or by mechanics to refer to new unproven vehicles. In 1937,
tractor A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or construction. Most commo ...
s which were supplied by
Minneapolis Moline Motec Industries was a large tractor and farm and industrial machinery producer based in Hopkins, Minnesota known for its Minneapolis-Moline tractor line. It was the product of a merger of three companies in 1929: Minneapolis Steel & Machinery ...
to the US Army were called jeeps. A precursor of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was also referred to as the jeep. ''Words of the Fighting Forces'' by Clinton A. Sanders, a dictionary of military slang, published in 1942, in the library at
The Pentagon The Pentagon is the headquarters building of the United States Department of Defense. It was constructed on an accelerated schedule during World War II. As a symbol of the U.S. military, the phrase ''The Pentagon'' is often used as a meton ...
gives this definition: :Jeep: A four-wheel drive vehicle of one-half- [] to one-and-one-half-ton [] capacity for reconnaissance or other army duty. A term applied to the bantam-cars, and occasionally to other motor vehicles (U.S.A.) in the Air Corps, the Link Trainer; in the armored forces, the -ton [] command vehicle. Also referred to as "any small plane, helicopter, or gadget." This definition is supported by the use of the term "jeep carrier" to refer to the Navy's small escort carriers. Early in 1941,
Willys-Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs) ...
demonstrated the vehicle's off-road capability by having it drive up the steps of the
United States Capitol The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, which is formally known as the United States Congress. It is located on Capitol Hill ...
, driven by Willys test driver Irving "Red" Hausmann, who had recently heard soldiers at
Fort Holabird Fort Holabird was a United States Army post in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, active from 1918 to 1973. History Fort Holabird was located in the southeast corner of Baltimore and northwest of the suburban developments of Dundalk, Maryland, in s ...
calling it a "jeep." When asked by syndicated columnist Katharine Hillyer for the ''
Washington Daily News The ''Washington Daily News'' is an American, English language daily newspaper headquartered in and serving Washington, North Carolina and Beaufort County, North Carolina. It was established in 1909. The paper also uses Facebook for sharing new ...
'' (or by a bystander, according to another account) what it was called, Hausmann answered, "It's a jeep." Katharine Hillyer's article was published nationally on February 19, 1941, and included a picture of the vehicle with the caption: :LAWMAKERS TAKE A RIDE- With Senator Meade, of New York, at the wheel, and Representative
Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...
, of New Jersey, sitting beside him, one of the Army's new scout cars, known as "jeeps" or "quads", climbs up the Capitol steps in a demonstration yesterday. Soldiers in the rear seat for gunners were unperturbed. Although the term was also military slang for vehicles that were untried or untested, this exposure caused all other jeep references to fade, leaving the 4x4 with the name.


Brand, trademarks and image

The "Jeep" brand has gone through many owners, starting with
Willys-Overland Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs) ...
, which filed the original trademark application for the "Jeep" brand-name in February 1943. To help establish the term as a Willys brand, the firm campaigned with advertisements emphasizing Willys' prominent contribution to the Jeep that helped win the war. Willys' application initially met with years of opposition, primarily from Bantam, but also from
Minneapolis-Moline Motec Industries was a large tractor and farm and industrial machinery producer based in Hopkins, Minnesota known for its Minneapolis-Moline tractor line. It was the product of a merger of three companies in 1929: Minneapolis Steel & Machinery (M ...
. The Federal Trade Commission initially ruled in favor of Bantam in May 1943, largely ignoring Minneapolis-Moline's claim, and continued to scold Willys-Overland after the war for its advertising. The FTC even slapped the company with a formal complaint, to cease and desist any claims that it "created or designed" the Jeep — Willys was only allowed to advertise its contribution to the Jeep's development. Willys however proceeded to produce the first Civilian Jeep (CJ) branded vehicles in 1945, and simply copyrighted the ''Jeep'' name in 1946. Being the only company that continually produced "Jeep" vehicles after the war, Willys-Overland was eventually granted the name "Jeep" as a registered trademark in June 1950. Aside from Willys, King Features Syndicate has held a trademark on the name "Jeep" for their comics since August 1936. Willys had also seriously considered the brand name ''AGRIJEEP'', and was granted the trademark for it in December 1944, but instead the civilian production models as of 1945 were marketed as the "Universal Jeep," which reflected a wider range of uses outside of farming.
FCA US LLC Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automotiv ...
, the most recent successor company to the Jeep brand, now holds trademark status on the name "Jeep" and the distinctive 7-slot front grille design. The original 9-slot grille associated with all World War II jeeps was designed by Ford for their GPW, and because it weighed less than the original "Slat Grille" of Willys (an arrangement of flat bars), was incorporated into the "standardized jeep" design. The history of the HMMWV (
Humvee The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ...
) has ties with Jeep. In 1971, Jeep's Defense and Government Products Division was turned into AM General, a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Motors Corporation, which also owned Jeep. In 1979, while still owned by American Motors, AM General began the first steps toward designing the Humvee. AM General also continued manufacturing the two-wheel-drive DJ, which Jeep created in 1953. The General Motors
Hummer Hummer (stylized as HUMMER) is a brand of pickups and SUVs that was first marketed in 1992 when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. Although discontinued in 2010, Hummer returned as a sub-brand of GMC in 2020. ...
and Chrysler Jeep have been waging battle in U.S. courts over the right to use seven slots in their respective radiator grilles. Chrysler Jeep claims it has the exclusive rights to use the seven vertical slits since it is the sole remaining assignee of the various companies since Willys gave their postwar jeeps seven slots instead of Ford's nine-slot design for the Jeep.


Off-road abilities

Jeep advertising has always emphasized the brand's vehicles' off-road capabilities. Today, the Wrangler is one of the few remaining four-wheel-drive vehicles with solid front and rear axles. These axles are known for their durability, strength, and articulation. New Wranglers come with a
Dana 44 The Dana 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and is used among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned wit ...
rear differential and a
Dana 30 The Dana/Spicer Model 30 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation. It has been manufactured as a beam axle and independent suspension axle with several versions. General specifications * Ring Gear measures * OEM Inner ...
front differential. The upgraded Rubicon model of the JK Wrangler is equipped with electronically activated locking differentials,
Dana 44 The Dana 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and is used among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned wit ...
axles front and rear with 4.10 gears, a 4:1
transfer case A transfer case is a part of the drivetrain of four-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and other multiple powered axle vehicles. The transfer case transfers power from the transmission to the front and rear axles by means of drive shafts. It also syn ...
, electronic
sway bar An anti-roll bar (roll bar, anti-sway bar, sway bar, stabilizer bar) is a part of many automobile suspensions that helps reduce the body roll of a vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities. It connects opposite (left/right) whee ...
disconnect, and heavy-duty suspension. Another benefit of solid axle vehicles is they tend to be easier and cheaper to "lift" with aftermarket suspension systems. This increases the distance between the axle and chassis of the vehicle. By increasing this distance, larger tires can be installed, which will increase the
ground clearance Ride height or ground clearance is the amount of space between the base of an automobile tire and the lowest point of the automobile (typically the axle); or, more properly, to the shortest distance between a flat, level surface, and the lowest p ...
, allowing it to traverse even larger and more difficult obstacles. In addition to higher ground clearance, many owners aim to increase suspension articulation or "flex" to give their Jeeps greatly improved off-road capabilities. Good suspension articulation keeps all four wheels in contact with the ground and maintains traction. Useful features of the smaller Jeeps are their short wheelbases, narrow frames, ample approach, breakover, and departure angles, thus enabling them to traverse through places where full-size four-wheel drives have difficulty.


Company history and ownership

After the war, Willys did not resume production of its passenger-car models, choosing instead to concentrate on Jeeps and Jeep-branded vehicles, launching the Jeep Station Wagon in 1946, the Jeep Truck in 1947, and the Jeepster in 1948. An attempt to re-enter the passenger-car market in 1952 with the
Willys Aero The Willys Aero was a line of passenger cars manufactured first by Willys-Overland and later by Kaiser-Willys Corporation from 1952 through 1955. It was also produced in Brazil from 1960 to 1971. US production The father of the Aero was Clyde ...
sedan proved unsuccessful, and ended with the company's acquisition by
Kaiser Motors Kaiser Motors (formerly Kaiser-Frazer) Corporation made automobiles at Willow Run, Michigan, United States, from 1945 to 1953. In 1953, Kaiser merged with Willys-Overland to form Willys Motors Incorporated, moving its production operation ...
in 1953, for $60 million. Kaiser initially called the merged company "Willys Motors", but renamed itself
Kaiser-Jeep Kaiser Jeep was the result of the 1953 merger of Kaiser Motors, an independent passenger car maker based in Willow Run, Michigan, with the Toledo, Ohio-based Willys-Overland Company. Willys-Overland had been at one point before World War II ...
in 1963. By the end of 1955, Kaiser-Frazer had dropped the Willys Aero, as well as its own passenger cars to sell Jeeps exclusively. American Motors Corporation (AMC) in turn purchased Kaiser's money-losing Jeep operations in 1970. This time $70 million changed hands. The utility vehicles complemented AMC's passenger car business by sharing components, achieving volume efficiencies, as well as capitalizing on Jeep's international and government markets. In 1971, AMC spun off Jeep's commercial, postal, and military vehicle lines into a separate subsidiary, AM General – the company that later developed the M998 Humvee. In 1976 Jeep introduced the CJ-7, replacing the CJ-6 in North America, as well as crossing 100,000 civilian units in annual global sales for the first time. The French automaker
Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufacture ...
began investing in AMC in 1979. Renault began selling Jeeps through their European dealerships soon thereafter, beginning in Belgium and France, gradually supplanting a number of independent importers. During this period Jeep introduced the XJ Cherokee, its first unibody SUV; and global sales topped 200,000 for the first time in 1985. However, the replacement of the CJ Jeeps by the new Wrangler line in 1986 marked the start of a different era. By 1987, the automobile markets had changed and Renault itself was experiencing financial troubles. At the same time, Chrysler Corporation wanted to capture the Jeep brand, as well as other assets of AMC. So Chrysler bought out AMC in 1987, shortly after the Jeep CJ-7 had been replaced with the AMC-designed Wrangler YJ. After more than 40 years, the four-wheel drive utility vehicles brand that had been a profitable niche for smaller automakers fell into the hands of one of the Big Three; and Jeep was the only AMC brand continued by Chrysler after the acquisition. But Chrysler subsequently merged with
Daimler-Benz The Mercedes-Benz Group AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufactur ...
in 1998 and folded into
DaimlerChrysler The Mercedes-Benz Group AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufacture ...
. DaimlerChrysler eventually sold most of its interest in Chrysler to a
private equity In the field of finance, the term private equity (PE) refers to investment funds, usually limited partnerships (LP), which buy and restructure financially weak companies that produce goods and provide services. A private-equity fund is both a t ...
company in 2007. Chrysler and the Jeep division operated under Chrysler Group LLC, until December 15, 2014, when Chrysler folded into Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, with the stateside subsidiary operating under 'FCA US LLC'. Jeeps have been built under licence by various manufacturers around the world, including Mahindra in
India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, EBRO in Spain, and several in South America. Mitsubishi built more than 30 models in Japan between 1953 and 1998; Most were based on the CJ-3B model of the original Willys-Kaiser design.
Toledo, Ohio Toledo ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Lucas County, Ohio, United States. A major Midwestern United States port city, Toledo is the fourth-most populous city in the state of Ohio, after Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, and according ...
has been the headquarters of the Jeep brand since its inception, and the city has always been proud of this heritage. Although no longer produced in the same
Toledo Complex The Toledo Assembly Complex is a automotive factory complex located in Toledo, Ohio. Now owned by Stellantis North America, sections of the facility have operated as an automobile assembly plant since 1910, originally for Willys-Overland. The T ...
as the World War II originals, two streets in the vicinity of the old plant are named Willys Parkway and Jeep Parkway. The
Jeep Wrangler The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986 and is currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was revealed in late 2017 and is produ ...
and
Jeep Cherokee The Jeep Cherokee is a line of SUVs manufactured and marketed by Jeep over five generations. Originally marketed as a variant of the Jeep Wagoneer, the Cherokee has evolved from a full-size SUV to one of the first compact SUVs and into its cu ...
are built in the city currently, in separate facilities, not far from the site of the original Willys-Overland plant. American Motors set up the first automobile-manufacturing joint venture in the People's Republic of China on January 15, 1984. The result was Beijing Jeep Corporation, Ltd., in partnership with Beijing Automobile Industry Corporation, to produce the
Jeep Cherokee (XJ) The Jeep Cherokee (XJ) is a sport utility vehicle manufactured and marketed across a single generation by Jeep in the United States from 1983 through 2001 — and globally through 2014. It was available in two- or four-door, five-passenger, fro ...
in Beijing. Manufacture continued after Chrysler's buyout of AMC. This joint venture is now part of DaimlerChrysler and DaimlerChrysler China Invest Corporation. The original 1984 XJ model was updated and called the "Jeep 2500" toward the end of its production that ended after 2005. In October 2022, the joint venture between Stellantis and Chinese company Guangzhou Automobile Group filed for bankruptcy, although Stellantis said it intends to continue servicing Jeep brand customers in China. While Jeeps have been built in India under license by Mahindra & Mahindra since the 1960s, Jeep has entered the Indian market directly in 2016, starting with the release of the Wrangler and Grand Cherokee in the country.


Ownership chronology

* 1944–1953:
Willys Willys (pronounced , "Willis" ) was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (MBs ...
-Overland * 1953–1964:
Kaiser Jeep Kaiser Jeep was the result of the 1953 merger of Kaiser Motors, an independent passenger car maker based in Willow Run, Michigan, with the Toledo, Ohio-based Willys-Overland Company. Willys-Overland had been at one point before World War II t ...
(calling themselves "Willys Motors") * 1964–1970: Kaiser Jeep * 1970–1987:
AMC AMC may refer to: Film and television * AMC Theatres, an American movie theater chain * AMC Networks, an American entertainment company ** AMC (TV channel) ** AMC+, streaming service ** AMC Networks International, an entertainment company *** ...
(w/
Renault Groupe Renault ( , , , also known as the Renault Group in English; legally Renault S.A.) is a French multinational automobile manufacturer established in 1899. The company produces a range of cars and vans, and in the past has manufacture ...
controlling production in 1986) * 1987–1998: Chrysler Corporation * 1998–2007: Daimler Chrysler AG * 2007–2009: Chrysler LLC * 2009–2013: Chrysler Group LLC -
Fiat Group Automobiles Stellantis Italy, formerly known as Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. from 2007 to 2014 and FCA Italy S.p.A. from 2014 to 2021, is the Italian subsidiary of the multinational automaker Stellantis, dedicated to the production and selling of passenger ...
* 2014–2021: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles * 2021–present: Stellantis


Military Jeeps model list

* 1940 Willys Quad — Willys' first prototype, competing for the U.S. Army contract for a reconnaissance vehicle * 1941 Willys MA — Willys' low-volume preproduction model, preceding the standardized World War II jeep * 1941–1944 Willys MT "Super Jeep" — 6x6, prototype — a small number were built in various configurations * 1942 Willys MB – slat grille * 1942–1945 Willys MB – stamped grille * 1943 Willys WAC (for 'Willys Air Cooled') "Jeeplet" — prototype for a super light-weight, full-time 4WD with front and rear independent suspension * 1944 Willys MLW-1 (for 'Military Long Wheelbase') — prototype (never finished) * 1944 Willys MLW-2 (for 'Military Long Wheelbase') or "Jungle Jeep" — prototype for a ''half''-ton, jungle-suited jeep * 1948 Willys
Jungle Burden Carrier A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...
— a medical litter, personnel and cargo carrier, built in small numbers for testing in jungle warfare and with airborne forces. * 1949–1952 Willys MC / M38 * 1950 CJ V-35(/U) – deep water fording CJ-3A; 1000 units built for the USMC * 1952–1971 Willys / Kaiser MD / M38A1 ** 1952–1957 Willys M38A1C – fitted with 105/106mm anti-tank recoilless rifle ** 1950s/1960s Willys M38A1D – a small number of M38A1s carried the M28 or M29 "Davy Crockett Weapon System", the US' smallest
tactical nuclear weapon A tactical nuclear weapon (TNW) or non-strategic nuclear weapon (NSNW) is a nuclear weapon that is designed to be used on a battlefield in military situations, mostly with friendly forces in proximity and perhaps even on contested friendly territo ...
, fired from a 120mm or 155mm recoilless rifle ** M170 Ambulance * 1953 Willys BC Bobcat aka "Aero Jeep" — prototype for a very small, lightweight () jeep, for easier lifting by helicopters of the day. * 1958–1960 Willys XM443 / M443E1 "Super Mule" – prototypes for , underfloor mid-engined platform-trucks, comparable to, but larger than the M274 "Mechanical Mule" * 1959–1982 M151 jeep — ''Although the M151 was developed and initially produced by Ford, production contracts for the M151A2 were later also awarded to
Kaiser Jeep Kaiser Jeep was the result of the 1953 merger of Kaiser Motors, an independent passenger car maker based in Willow Run, Michigan, with the Toledo, Ohio-based Willys-Overland Company. Willys-Overland had been at one point before World War II t ...
and AM General Corp, a Jeep sister company, once Jeep had become part of AMC.'' ** 1970–1982 M151A2 *** M718A1 Ambulance *** M825 Weapons Platform * 1960–1968 Jeep M606 * 1964 US Navy and USMC variants of the Forward Control FC-170, labeled "Truck, Diesel engine, GVW, 4x4": ** M676 Truck, Cargo Pickup ** M677 Truck, Cargo Pickup w/4 Dr. Cab ** M678 Truck, Carry All ** M679 Truck, Ambulance * 1967–1969
Kaiser Jeep M715 The G-890 Truck, -ton, 4×4, Kaiser Jeep M715, sometimes called the "Five quarter (ton)", for its ton payload rating, is an American light military truck, based on the civilian Jeep Gladiator (SJ). Design and development for the M715 began in 19 ...
truck — based on the civilian Jeep Gladiator


Civilian Jeeps model list


Jeep CJ

The CJ (for "Civilian Jeep") series were literally the first "Jeep" branded vehicles sold commercially to the civilian public, beginning in 1945 with the CJ-2A, followed by the CJ-3A in 1949 and the CJ-3B in 1953. These early Jeeps are frequently referred to as "flat-fenders" because their front fenders were completely flat and straight, just as on the original WW II model (the Willys MB and identical Ford GPW). The CJ-4 exists only as a single 1951 prototype and constitutes the "missing link" between the flat-fendered CJ-2A and CJ-3A/B, and the subsequent Jeeps with new bodies, featuring rounded fenders and hoods, beginning with the 1955 CJ-5, first introduced as the military Willys MD (or M38A1). The restyled body was mostly prompted to clear the taller new overhead-valve Hurricane engine. * 1944–1945
CJ-2 The Jeep CJ models are a series and a range of small, open-bodied off-road vehicles and compact pickup trucks, built and sold by several successive incarnations of the Jeep automobile marque from 1945 to 1986. The 1945 Willys Jeep was the world' ...
– pre-production units * 1945–1949 CJ-2A * 1949–1953
CJ-3 The Jeep CJ models are a series and a range of small, open-bodied off-road vehicles and compact pickup trucks, built and sold by several successive incarnations of the Jeep automobile marque from 1945 to 1986. The 1945 Willys Jeep was the worl ...
A * 1953–1968 CJ-3B * 1954–1983 CJ-5 * 1955–1975 CJ-6 * 1964–1967 CJ-5A/CJ-6A Tuxedo Park * 1976–1986 CJ-7 * 1981–1985 CJ-8 Scrambler * 1981–1985
CJ-10 The CJ-10 () is a second-generationGormley et al.: p.102 Chinese ground-based land-attack missile.United States Office of the Secretary of Defense: Annual Report To Congress 2015, p.39 It is derived from the Kh-55 missile. It is reportedly manufa ...


Willys Jeep Station Wagon and Truck

* The 1946–1965
Willys Jeep Station Wagon The Willys Jeep Station Wagon, Jeep Utility Wagon and Jeep Panel Delivery are automobiles produced by Willys and Kaiser Jeep in the United States from 1946 to 1964, with production in Argentina and Brazil continuing until 1970 and 1977 respectivel ...
and the * 1947–1965
Willys Jeep Truck The Willys Jeep Truck is a truck made by Willys-Overland Motors from 1947 to 1965. The styling and engineering of the Jeep Truck was based on Willys' existing vehicles, the Willys Jeep Station Wagon and the Jeep CJ-2A. Production The Jeep Tr ...
shared much in terms of styling and engineering. With over 300,000 wagons and variants built in the U.S., it was one of Willys' most successful post-World War II models. Its production coincided with consumers moving to the suburbs.


Willys / Jeep Jeepster & (Jeepster) Commando

The Jeepster introduced in 1948 was directly based on the rear-wheel-drive Jeep Station Wagon chassis, and shared many of the same parts. * 1948–1950 Willys VJ Jeepster * 1948–1949 VJ2 Jeepster * 1949–1951 VJ3 Jeepster (Jeepster) Commando * 1966–1971 C101—Jeepster Commando ** Hurst Jeepster (only 100 produced) ** Hurst Half Cab ** Revival Jeepster ** Commando convertible ** open body roadster * 1972–1973 C104—Jeep Commando ** Commando Half Cab


Jeep Forward Control

* The 1956–1965
Jeep Forward Control The Jeep Forward Control is a truck that was produced by Willys Motors, later named Kaiser Jeep, from 1956 to 1965. It was also assembled in other international markets. The layout featured a cab over (forward control) design. The Forward Contro ...
was built in both civilian and military models. The civilian versions were: ** FC-150 ** FC-160—Spain, India ** FC-170


Jeep DJ and Fleetvan

From 1955 onwards Willys offered two-wheel drive versions of their CJ Jeeps for commercial use, called DJ models (for 'Dispatcher Jeep'), in both open and closed body styles. A well-known version was the right-hand drive model with sliding side-doors, used by the US Postal service.
In 1961 the range was expanded with the 'Fleetvan' delivery van, based on DJ Jeeps. * 1955 USAF DJ * 1955–1964
DJ-3A The Jeep DJ (also known as the Dispatcher) is a two-wheel drive variant of the four-wheel drive CJ series. Production started in 1955 by Willys, which was renamed Kaiser Jeep in 1963. In 1970, American Motors Corporation (AMC) purchased Kaiser ...
* 1965–1975 DJ-5 * 1965–1973 DJ-6 * 1967–1975 DJ-5A * 1970–1972 DJ-5B * 1973–1974 DJ-5C * 1975–1976 DJ-5D * 1976 DJ-5E ''Electruck'' * 1977–1978 DJ-5F * 1979 DJ-5G * 1982 DJ-5L Fleetvan Jeep * 1961–1975 Fleetvan **
FJ-3 The North American FJ-2 and FJ-3 Fury are a series of swept-wing carrier-capable fighters for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The FJ-2 resulted from an effort to navalize the North American F-86 Sabre operated by the United States Ai ...
** FJ-3A ** FJ-6 ** FJ-6A ** FJ-8 ** FJ-9


SJ Wagoneer, Cherokee and pickups

SUV models (1962–1991) * 1962–1983 SJ Wagoneer * 1966–1969 SJ Super Wagoneer * 1974–1983 SJ Cherokee * 1984–1991 SJ Grand Wagoneer Pickup models (1962–1988) * 1962–1971
Jeep Gladiator (SJ) The Jeep Gladiator, Jeep Pickup or J-series is a series of full-size pickup trucks based on the large Jeep SJ (Wagoneer) platform, which was built and sold under numerous marques from 1962 to 1988. The Jeep Gladiator/Pickup design is noteworth ...
* 1971–1988 Jeep pickup truck (J-)


Jeep Cherokee (XJ) and Comanche

* 1984–2001 XJ Cherokee * 1984–1990 XJ Wagoneer ** 1984–1985 Broughwood ** 1984–1990 Limited * 1986–1992
Jeep Comanche The Jeep Comanche (designated MJ) is a pickup truck variant of the Cherokee compact SUV (1984–2001) manufactured and marketed by Jeep for model years 1986-1992 in rear wheel (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) models as well as two cargo bed leng ...
(MJ)


Jeep Wrangler

* 1987–1995
Jeep Wrangler YJ The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986 and is currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was revealed in late 2017 and is produc ...
** 1991–1993 Renegade ** 1988–1995 Wrangler Long—Venezuela ** 1995 Wrangler Rio Grande * 1997–2006 Wrangler TJ ** 2002 TJ Se, X, Sport, Sahara models ** 2003 TJ Rubicon, Rubicon Tomb Raider Edition, Sahara, Sport, X, Se models, Freedom Edition ** 2004–2006 TJ Long Wheel Base (LJ) Unlimited ( longer than a standard TJ) Rubicon, Sport, X, Se models ** 2004–2005 Willys Edition (2004–1997 made, 2005–2001 made) ** 2004 Columbia Edition ** 2005 Rubicon Sahara Unlimited TJ LWB (LJ) (1000 made) ** 2006 Golden Eagle Edition, 65 Year Anniversary Edition (1,675 Black 65th Anniversary Editions made) ** 2007–2011 TJL AEV Brute: Compact pickup truck, 2-door version; produced by AEV with the Jeep logo. * 2007–2018 Wrangler JK ** 2007–2009 JK Rubicon, Sahara, X ** 2010 JK Rubicon, Sahara, Mountain, Islander, and Sport Editions ** 2011 70th Anniversary, '' Call of Duty: Black Ops'', Mojave, and Oscar Mike Military (200 made) Editions ** 2011 JK-8 Independence — a
MOPAR Mopar is the parts, service, and customer care division of the former Chrysler Corporation, now owned by Netherlands-based automobile manufacturer Stellantis. It serves as a primary OEM accessory seller for Stellantis brands under the Mopar bran ...
JK pick-up conversion kit, mirroring the 1980s CJ-8 Scrambler pick-up ** 2013 Rubicon 10th Anniversary Edition ** 2013–2017 Brute Double Cab: Pickup truck, 4-door version, produced by American Expedition Vehicles ** 2014 Willys Wheeler Edition * 2017 — Jeep Wrangler JL * 2019 — Jeep Gladiator JT


Grand Cherokee

* 1993–1998 Grand Cherokee ZJ ** 1993–1995 Base SE ** 1993–1998 Laredo ** 1993–1998 Limited ** 1995–1997 Orvis "Limited Edition" ** 1997–1998 TSi ** 1998 5.9 Limited * 1993 ZJ Jeep Grand Wagoneer * 1999–2004 Grand Cherokee WJ Grand Cherokee ** 2002–2003 Sport ** 2002–2004 Special edition ** 2002–2004 Overland ** 2004 Columbia Edition * 2005–2010 Grand Cherokee WK: Five-passenger family-oriented
SUV A sport utility vehicle (SUV) is a car classification that combines elements of road-going passenger cars with features from off-road vehicles, such as raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive. There is no commonly agreed-upon definiti ...
— "WK" is the designator for the 2005–2010 Grand Cherokee, marks the beginning of the -K designation compared to the -J designation * 2011– present Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2


Jeep Liberty / Cherokee

* 2002–2007 Jeep Liberty KJ or Jeep Cherokee (KJ) outside North America ** Sport ** Limited ** Renegade ** 2003 Freedom Edition ** 2004–05 Rocky Mountain Edition ** 2004 Columbia Edition ** 2006 65th Anniversary Edition ** 2007 Latitude Edition (replaced Renegade) * 2008–2012 Jeep Liberty KK or Jeep Cherokee (KK) outside North America


Jeep Commander

* 2006–2010
Jeep Commander (XK) The Jeep Commander XK and XH (for diesel-powered export version) is a mid-size SUV that was manufactured from 2005 to 2010 by the Jeep division of the American manufacturer Chrysler. Concept car Jeep exhibited a concept car named Commander dur ...
** 2006 Base ** 2007–2010 Sport ** 2006–2010 Limited ** 2007–2009 Overland


Jeep Compass and Patriot platform

* 2007–2017 Jeep Compass MK49 * 2017–present Jeep Compass MP/552 * 2006–2017
Jeep Patriot The Jeep Patriot (MK74) is a front-engine five-door compact crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by Jeep, having debuted with the Jeep Compass in April 2006 at the New York Auto Show for the 2007 model year. Both cars, as well as Dodge Calibe ...
(MK74): Compact sport utility vehicle


Concepts and prototypes

* 1944 CJ-1 prototype * 1949 Alcoa Aluminum-bodied Jeepster Coupe (prototype) * 1949–1950 X-98 prototype; with flat fenders, but a rounded hood and grille like the CJ-5, it may have been the first F-head-powered Jeep * 1950
CJ-4 The Jeep CJ models are a series and a range of small, open-bodied off-road vehicles and compact pickup trucks, built and sold by several successive incarnations of the Jeep automobile marque from 1945 to 1986. The 1945 Willys Jeep was the worl ...
prototype * 1950
CJ-4 The Jeep CJ models are a series and a range of small, open-bodied off-road vehicles and compact pickup trucks, built and sold by several successive incarnations of the Jeep automobile marque from 1945 to 1986. The 1945 Willys Jeep was the worl ...
M prototype * 1950
CJ-4 The Jeep CJ models are a series and a range of small, open-bodied off-road vehicles and compact pickup trucks, built and sold by several successive incarnations of the Jeep automobile marque from 1945 to 1986. The 1945 Willys Jeep was the worl ...
MA prototype * 1952 CJ Coiler: experimental design for an all independent suspension, with portal-hub swing-axles and coil-springs * 1958 DJ-3A Pickup: Prototype pickup truck version of the DJ-3A * 1958 Jeep Creep: prototype utility vehicle; several versions built for tests, including a Postal rig and an aircraft tug * 1959 Jeep J-100 Malibu and Berkeley: Later developed into the Wagoneer * 1960 Jeep Wide-Trac: Concept for developing a low-cost vehicle for third-world countries * 1962 The Brazilian Jeepster (prototype) * 1963 Jeep XM-200: J200-based concept for developing a low-cost vehicle for third-world countries * 1965 Jeep/Renault Model H: A light 4x4 prototype based on the Renault 16 * 1966 FWD Concept Jeepvair: Similar to the Model H but with a Chevrolet Corvair powertrain * 1970 XJ001 * 1970 XJ002 * 1971 Jeep Cowboy: A design study using AMC's "compact" automobile platform * 1977 Jeep II * 1979 Jeep Jeepster II * 1986 Cherokee Targa: A two-door Cherokee convertible (later revised as Jeep Freedom show car) * 1987 Comanche Thunderchief: This vehicle was put into production later as the Comanche Eliminator * 1989 Jeep Concept 1: Evolved into the ZJ Grand Cherokee * 1989 Jeep Rubicon Wrangler: This vehicle was later put in production * 1990 Jeep JJ: Essentially what would later be called the Icon * 1990 Jeep Freedom: A revised Cherokee Targa * 1991 Jeep Wagoneer 2000: A large design concept * 1993 Jeep Ecco * 1997 Jeep Cherokee Casablanca: A special edition of Cherokee, never produced * 1997 Jeep Wrangler Ultimate Res: A tuned version of a regular TJ Wrangler developed for SEMA show * 1997 Fender Jeep Wrangler * 1997 Jeep Dakar: A fused version of a XJ Cherokee and TJ Wrangler * 1997 Jeep Icon: A design study for the next-generation Wrangler * 1999 Jeep Commander: methanol fuel cell drive train with electric motors * 1999 Jeep Journey * 1999 Jeep Jeepster Concept * 2000 Jeep Cherokee Total Exposure * 2000 Jeep Varsity: Subsequently, put into production as the Compass * 2000 Jeep Commander Concept: Subsequently, put into production as the XK * 2000 Jeep Willys * 2001 Jeep Willys2 * 2002 Jeep Wrangler Tabasco * 2002 Jeep Wrangler Patriot: A special decal package for the Wrangler X/Sport * 2002 Jeep Wrangler Mountain Biker * 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ) Concierge * 2004 Jeep Treo * 2004 Jeep Res * 2004 Jeep Liberator CRD * 2005 Jeep Hurricane: The 4-wheel steering system allows the vehicle to have both a zero turning circle, and "crab" sideways. Its engine was later put in the Grand Cherokee (WK) SRT-8 * 2005 Jeep Gladiator Concept * 2005 Jeep Aggressor (the Rezo) * 2007 Jeep Trailhawk * 2008
Jeep Renegade The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Stellantis under their Jeep marque. It was first shown to the public in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show and production started in late August of that year. , the Renegade is the smal ...
* 2010 Jeep J8 * 2010 Jeep Nukizer: Design study inspired by the Military Kaiser M-715 * 2011 Jeep Wrangler Pork Chop * 2011 Jeep Compass Canyon: uses a lift * 2011 Jeep Cherokee Overland * 2012 Jeep Mighty FC: inspired by the 1956 to 1965 Forward Control vehicles Jeep sold * 2012 Jeep J-12 Concept: recalling the 1962–1971 Gladiator pickups * 2013 Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon * 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk EcoDiesel * 2013 Jeep Wrangler Stitch * 2013 Jeep Wrangler Flattop: featuring a one-piece, windowless hardtop * 2014 Jeep Wrangler Level Red * 2014 Jeep Cherokee Dakar * 2014 Jeep Wrangler MOJO * 2015 Jeep Chief * 2015 Jeep Wrangler Africa * 2015 Jeep Wrangler Red Rock Responder * 2015 Jeep Staff Car: a tribute to Jeep's military history starting with WWII


Current models

The Jeep brand currently produces five models, but 8 vehicles are under the brand name or use the Jeep logo: *
Jeep Renegade The Jeep Renegade is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by Stellantis under their Jeep marque. It was first shown to the public in March 2014 at the Geneva Motor Show and production started in late August of that year. , the Renegade is the smal ...
: Subcompact Sport Utility Vehicle *
Jeep Wrangler The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986 and is currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was revealed in late 2017 and is produ ...
** JK: Standard wheelbase Compact Sport utility vehicle, 2-door version ** JK Unlimited: Long wheelbase Mid-Size sport utility vehicle, 4-door version ** J8: Mid-Size military utility vehicle; Produced by AIL, AAV, and AEV. ** TJL: Compact pickup truck, 2-door version; Produced by AAV. ** JL: Short (2-door) and long (4-door) wheelbase SUV; in production since November 2017 ** Jeep Gladiator (JT): mid-size pickup truck, went on sale in early 2019 as a 2020 model. *
Jeep Grand Cherokee The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a range of mid-size SUVs produced by the American manufacturer Jeep. At its introduction, while most SUVs were still manufactured with body-on-frame construction, the Grand Cherokee has used a unibody chassis from the ...
: Mid-size sport utility vehicle *
Jeep Compass The Jeep Compass is a compact crossover SUV introduced for the 2007 model year, and is currently in its second generation. The first generation Compass and Patriot, its rebadged variant, were among Jeep's first crossover SUVs. The second-genera ...
: Compact sport utility vehicle * Jeep Cherokee KL: Mid-size sport utility vehicle *
Jeep Commander The Jeep Commander is an automobile nameplate used by Jeep since 2005 for several SUV models: * Jeep Commander (XK), a mid-size SUV produced from 2005 to 2010 * Jeep Commander (2022), a mid-size crossover SUV based on the Jeep Compass produced ...
: Mid-size sport utility vehicle, mainly for emerging markets *
Jeep Wagoneer The Jeep Wagoneer is a sport utility vehicle (SUV) nameplate of Jeep vehicles, with several models marketed for the 1963 through 1993 model years and again since the 2022 model year. Various versions of the Wagoneer were manufactured in the US ...
/Jeep Grand Wagoneer (WS): Full-Size SUVs * Jeep Avenger


Jeeps built outside the USA

Jeeps have been built and/or assembled around the world by various companies. * Argentina – IKA Jeeps 1956–current; now owned by Chrysler * Australia – Willys Motors Australia – 1940s–1980s * Brazil – Willys Overland do Brasil, purchased by Ford to become
Ford do Brasil Ford Brasil is the Brazilian subsidiary of American automaker Ford Motor Company, founded on April 24, 1919. The operation started out importing the Ford Model T cars and the Ford Model TT trucks in kit form from the United States for assembly ...
– 1957–1985 built the
Jeep Rural Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Moto ...
from 1960 to 1977, and the Troller T4 is a fiberglass bodied Jeep version built in Brazil. Troller was purchased by Ford do Brasil in 2007. * Burma/Myanmar – Two Burmese companies produce unlicensed copies of jeeps; Myanmar Jeeps and Chin Dwin Star Jeeps. * Canada – Kaiser Jeep – 1959–1969 * China – Beijing Jeep Corporation – 1983 to 2009 as
Beijing-Benz DaimlerChrysler Automotive Beijing Benz (officially Beijing Benz Automotive Co., Ltd) is an automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Beijing, China, and a joint venture between BAIC Motor and Mercedes-Benz Group. It was originally established in January 1984 as ...
. Since the 2014 sale of Chrysler and Jeep to FIAT jeeplike and other similar vehicles are now produced by BAIC subsidiary Beijing Automobile Works Co., Ltd. (BAW). Fiat-Chrysler plans to re-open Jeep production in China through a joint venture with
Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group Guangzhou Automobile Industry Group Co Ltd (GAIG, ) Introduction">Home > About Us > Introduction GAIG Official Site is a Chinese state-owned joint stock holding company that owns several Chinese automakers. A Chinese partner of Japanese compani ...
(GAIG). * Colombia – Willys Colombia – at least until 1999 * Egypt –
Arab Organization for Industrialization The Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) ( ar, الهيئة العربية للتصنيع) is an Egypt-based Arab military organization established in 1975 by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar to supervise the collecti ...
subsidiary Arab American Vehicles based in
Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the Capital city, capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, List of ...
produces the
Jeep Cherokee The Jeep Cherokee is a line of SUVs manufactured and marketed by Jeep over five generations. Originally marketed as a variant of the Jeep Wagoneer, the Cherokee has evolved from a full-size SUV to one of the first compact SUVs and into its cu ...
; the open-top, Wrangler-based Jeep AAV TJL. * France – Licence produced jeeps: Hotchkiss M201 and by
Cournil Bernard Cournil was a French vehicle maker who progressed from improving other people’s vehicles to manufacturing his own during the late 1950s. Rights to manufacture his design were subsequently held by a succession of businesses in Portugal aft ...
(now Auverland) – 1952–1962 * India – Mahindra & Mahindra Limited – 1960s-current * Iran –
Pars Khodro Pars Khodro ( fa, Pārs Xodro) is an Iranian automobile manufacturer. It was the first manufacturer of sport utility vehicles ( SUVs) in Iran. History Formerly, Pars Khodro built American Motors' Rambler and General Motors (GM) products under lice ...
, ShahBaaz,
Sahra ''Sahra'' is a studio album from Algerian raï artist Khaled, released in 1996. It was the artist's biggest production to date, being co-produced by Philippe Eidel, Don Was, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Clive Hunt, and including performances by man ...
, and Ahoo – ShahBaaz based on DJ series, Sahra based on
Jeep Wrangler The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986 and is currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was revealed in late 2017 and is produ ...
and CJ series, and Ahoo based on Wagoneer * Israel – Automotive Industries which produces the
AIL Storm The AIL Storm ( he, סופה, ''Sufa'') is an Israeli manufactured off-road vehicle and the workhorse of the Israeli Security Forces. The series of Jeep Wrangler based vehicles have been produced by Automotive Industries Ltd. in Upper Nazaret ...
(Sufa) series of
Jeep Wrangler The Jeep Wrangler is a series of compact and mid-size four-wheel drive off-road SUVs manufactured by Jeep since 1986 and is currently in its fourth generation. The Wrangler JL, the most recent generation, was revealed in late 2017 and is produ ...
-derivatives * Italy – 1950s * Japan – Mitsubishi Jeeps – 1953–1998 * Korea – Asia Motors, Ltd,
Dong A Motors The SsangYong Motor Company ( ko, 쌍용자동차 주식회사) is a South Korea–based automobile manufacturer. It traces its origins back to a manufacturer established in 1954. The name SsangYong appeared in 1988, after its acquisition by the ...
( SsangYong Motor Company),
Keowha Keohwa, Ltd. () was a Seoul, South Korea, based assembler of Jeeps under licence, mainly for export markets. Its predecessor was the Jeep assembly joint venture of Shinjin Motors and American Motor Corporation (AMC), established in 1974. It was sp ...
, and
Kia Kia Corporation, commonly known as Kia (, ; formerly known as Kyungsung Precision Industry and Kia Motors Corporation), is a South Korean multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It is South Korea's second lar ...
. (None use Jeep name) – 1980s-current * Mexico – VAM Jeeps – 1946–1987 * Netherlands – Nekaf Jeep, NEKAF and Kemper & Van Twist – 1954–1962 * Philippines –
Jeepney Jeepneys (), sometimes called jeeps (), are minibus-like public transportation, public utility vehicles, serving as the most popular means of Transportation in the Philippines, public transportation in the Philippines. They are known for their ...
s; MD Juan Willys MB; "E-jeepneys" or
minibuses A minibus, microbus, minicoach, or commuter (in Zimbabwe) is a passenger-carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, t ...
, LSV ( low-speed vehicles) which uses electricity. * Portugal – Bravia Sarl – 1960s to 1980s This Lisbon company assembled a number of Kaiser Jeep M-201 models from several Spanish EBRO and VIASA parts built to order for the USAF airfields & the US Army based at the time in Portugal, of the 500 vehicles made, most had American running gear. * Russia - Russian company APAL produces the Jeeplike Stalker which utilizes a space frame covered with plastic panels, using Lada Niva chassis and mechanicals. * Spain – Vehículos Industriales y Agrícolas, S.A (VIASA), absorbed by
Ebro trucks Ebro trucks was a Spanish brand of light and medium trucks and buses, as well as all-wheel-drive utility vehicles with plants located in Barcelona, Madrid, Ávila, and Cordoba. History Ebro trucks's parent company, Motor Ibérica, was set up in 1 ...
, and later sold to Nissan – 1960-1990s For instance built a long-wheelbase version of the CJ-3B from 1955 to 1968. * Turkey – Tuzla – 1954-1970s * Venezuela – Valencia Carabobo 1962–2011, 1962 Tejerias Edo Aragua Willys de Venezuela, S.A, 1979–2011 Ensambladora Carabobo C.A Valencia Edo Carabobo


Jeep apparel and sponsorships

Jeep is also a brand of apparel of outdoor lifestyle sold under license. It is reported that there are between 600 and 1,500 such outlets in China, vastly outnumbering the number of Jeep auto dealers in the country. In April 2012 Jeep signed a shirt sponsorship deal worth €35m ($45m) with Italian football club Juventus. In August 2014, Jeep signed a sponsorship deal with the Greek football club
AEK Athens F.C. AEK FC ( el, ΠΑΕ A.E.K. ; Αθλητική Ένωσις Κωνσταντινουπόλεως; ''Athlitikí Énosis Konstantinoupόleos'', meaning ''Athletic Union of Constantinople'') is a Greek professional football club based in Nea Filade ...
Jeep has been the title sponsor of France's top men's professional basketball league, LNB Pro A, since 2018. Under the deal, the league markets itself as Jeep Élite.


Sponsorships

* Dewa United * Juventus * Al-Nasr *
Balestier Khalsa Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a Singaporean professional association football, football club that competes in the Singapore Premier League. Founded in 1898, the club is considered as the oldest Football in Singapore, football club in Singap ...


See also


Notes


References

;Inline ;General * * * *


External links

*
"Leeping Lena Joins the Army", October 1941
first detailed article on what became known as the Jeep
Autobiography of a Jeep (1943)
United Films, Prelinger Archives, Historical Public Domain video. *
Meet the Postwar Jeep
August 1945 Popular Science
Story of the Jeep and the American Story are Intertwined
A Visual History {{Authority control Off-road vehicles American Motors Stellantis Car manufacturers of the United States Defense companies of the United States Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Ohio Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1945 Companies based in Toledo, Ohio Auburn Hills, Michigan Car brands American companies established in 1945