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Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation
Stellantis Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed in 2021 on the basis of a 50–50 cross-border merger between the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group. The comp ...
. Jeep has been part of
Chrysler 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 ...
since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner
American Motors Corporation American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954. At the time, it was the ...
(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 A pickup truck or pickup is a light-duty truck that has an enclosed cabin, and a back end made up of a cargo bed that is enclosed by three low walls with no roof (this cargo bed back end sometimes consists of a tailgate and removable covering) ...
. Previously, Jeep's range included other pick-ups, as well as small vans, and a few roadsters. 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 s ...
—reach into the luxury SUV segment, a market segment the 1963
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 ...
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 SUVs. 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 An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, 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 indust ...
and cocky, can-do determination." It is the precursor of subsequent generations of military light utility vehicles 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 or ...
, 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, Ohio, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnat ...
, 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 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 * 911 ...
is to
Porsche Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, usually shortened to Porsche (; see below), is a German automobile manufacturer specializing in high-performance sports cars, SUVs and sedans, headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The company ...
. 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 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 World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
, 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. 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 Karl Probst (20 October 1883 – 25 August 1963) was an American freelance engineer and automotive pioneer, credited with drafting the design drawings of the first prototype of the Bantam Reconnaissance Car, also known as the World War II "jeep ...
, 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 and driven to Camp Holabird,
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 t ...
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, 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 Delmar Gerle "Barney" Roos (11 October 1888 – 13 February 1960) was an American automotive engineer who served as Studebaker's head of engineering from 1926 to 1936, specialising in straight-eight engines. He later worked for the British Rootes Gr ...
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, Ohio, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnat ...
. 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 (fron ...
, ''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 Amphibious means able to use either land or water. In particular it may refer to: Animals * Amphibian, a vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia (many of which live on land and breed in water) * Amphibious caterpillar * Amphibious fish, a fish ...
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 ...
and to the
Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Russian language, Russian: Рабо́че-крестья́нская Кра́сная армия),) often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist R ...
.


Post-war military Jeeps

The Jeep has been widely imitated around the world, including in France by Delahaye 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. 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 Rove ...
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 t ...
described the Jeep as a masterpiece of functionalist design and has periodically exhibited the Jeep as part of its collection.
Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prize () is an award for achievements in newspaper, magazine, online journalism, literature, and musical composition within the United States. It was established in 1917 by provisions in the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made ...
-winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle 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'' 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 or ...
.


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 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 #Names, 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 Vie ...
. It had heavier full-floating axles and a foldable, vertical, flat windshield. Today, it serves other countries and is still being produced by Kia 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 or ...
. Joe Frazer, Willys-Overland 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 "Fighting ...
'', 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 (fron ...
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, a character in the ''
Thimble Theatre Popeye the Sailor Man is a fictional cartoon character created by Elzie Crisler Segar.E. C. Segar, 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 metony ...
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 demonstrated the vehicle's off-road capability by having it drive up the steps of the United States Capitol, driven by Willys test driver Irving "Red" Hausmann, who had recently heard soldiers at Fort Holabird calling it a "jeep." When asked by syndicated columnist Katharine Hillyer for the '' Washington Daily News'' (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
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, 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, 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 ...
. The
Federal Trade Commission The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction o ...
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 King Features Syndicate, Inc. is a American content distribution and animation studio, consumer product licensing and print syndication company owned by Hearst Communications that distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editori ...
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 or ...
) 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 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 rear differential and a Dana 30 front differential. The upgraded Rubicon model of the JK Wrangler is equipped with electronically activated locking differentials, Dana 44 axles front and rear with 4.10 gears, a 4:1 transfer case, electronic sway bar 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, 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 sedan proved unsuccessful, and ended with the company's acquisition by Kaiser Motors in 1953, for $60 million. Kaiser initially called the merged company "Willys Motors", but renamed itself Kaiser-Jeep 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 American Motors Corporation (AMC; commonly referred to as American Motors) was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954. At the time, it was the ...
(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 manufactured ...
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 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 ...
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 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' ...
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 manufactu ...
in 1998 and folded into DaimlerChrysler. 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 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) was an Italian-American multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, commercial vehicles, auto parts and production systems. The Italian holding company Exor was the largest ...
, 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 List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...
, 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, Ohio, Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnat ...
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 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 and Jeep Cherokee 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) 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 Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) is a Chinese State-owned enterprises of China, state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Guangzhou, Guangdong. Founded in 1954, it is currently the Automotive industry in China#List of ...
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 (calling themselves "Willys Motors") * 1964–1970: Kaiser Jeep * 1970–1987: AMC (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 manufactured ...
controlling production in 1986) * 1987–1998:
Chrysler Corporation 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 ...
* 1998–2007: Daimler
Chrysler 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 ...
AG * 2007–2009: Chrysler LLC * 2009–2013: Chrysler Group LLC - Fiat Group Automobiles * 2014–2021:
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) was an Italian-American multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles, commercial vehicles, auto parts and production systems. The Italian holding company Exor was the largest ...
* 2021–present:
Stellantis Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed in 2021 on the basis of a 50–50 cross-border merger between the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and the French PSA Group. The comp ...


Military Jeeps model list

* 1940
Willys Quad 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 (MB ...
— Willys' first prototype, competing for the U.S. Army contract for a reconnaissance vehicle * 1941
Willys MA The Willys MB and the Ford GPW, both formally called the U.S. Army Truck, -ton, 4×4, Command Reconnaissance, commonly known as the Willys Jeep, Jeep, or jeep, and sometimes referred to by its supply catalogue designation G503,According to i ...
— Willys' low-volume preproduction model, preceding the standardized World War II jeep * 1941–1944
Willys MT 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 (MB ...
"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 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 (MB ...
(for 'Willys Air Cooled') "Jeeplet" — prototype for a super light-weight, full-time 4WD with front and rear independent suspension * 1944
Willys MLW-1 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 (MB ...
(for 'Military Long Wheelbase') — prototype (never finished) * 1944
Willys MLW-2 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 (MB ...
(for 'Military Long Wheelbase') or "Jungle Jeep" — prototype for a ''half''-ton, jungle-suited jeep * 1948 Willys Jungle Burden Carrier — 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, fired from a 120mm or 155mm
recoilless rifle A recoilless rifle, recoilless launcher or recoilless gun, sometimes abbreviated "RR" or "RCL" (for ReCoilLess) is a type of lightweight artillery system or man-portable launcher that is designed to eject some form of countermass such as propel ...
** M170 Ambulance * 1953 Willys
BC Bobcat BC most often refers to: * Before Christ, a calendar era based on the traditionally reckoned year of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth * British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada * Baja California, a state of Mexico BC may also refer to ...
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 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 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 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' ...
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 – pre-production units * 1945–1949 CJ-2A * 1949–1953 CJ-3A * 1953–1968
CJ-3B 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' ...
* 1954–1983 CJ-5 * 1955–1975 CJ-6 * 1964–1967 CJ-5A/CJ-6A Tuxedo Park * 1976–1986
CJ-7 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' ...
* 1981–1985 CJ-8 Scrambler * 1981–1985 CJ-10


Willys Jeep Station Wagon and Truck

* The 1946–1965 Willys Jeep Station Wagon 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 Tru ...
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 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 The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
* 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 Kais ...
* 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 ** 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) * 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 (MJ)


Jeep Wrangler

* 1987–1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ ** 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 AEV Brute is the first American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Brute was built in 2004. History The first American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) Brute was built in 2004 after the company was founded in 1997. More information on the history of AEV can be ...
: 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 American Expedition Vehicles (AEV) was founded in 1997 in Montana, United States, and is a manufacturer of off-road and overland vehicle parts and accessories, as well as turnkey off-road vehicle packages, primarily based on Jeep Wranglers, but ...
** 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 — "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) ** 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 (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 wor ...
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 wor ...
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 wor ...
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 The Jeep Willys2 is a concept car made by the Chrysler Group and presented at the 2001 Tokyo Auto Show. The Willys2 is based on the Willys MB and uses frame web technology and a one-piece carbon-fiber body. The design takes many design cues from ...
* 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 Jeep Hurricane is a bespoke custom concept vehicle that was unveiled at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit by American automaker Jeep. Its principal exterior designer was Aaron Pizzuti. The concept went on to win IDEA ...
: 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 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 Motors ...
* 2005 Jeep Aggressor (the Rezo) * 2007
Jeep Trailhawk The Jeep Trailhawk is a mid-size concept SUV unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show. The name Trailhawk was later used as a badge on other models in the Jeep Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-n ...
* 2008 Jeep Renegade * 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: Subcompact Sport Utility Vehicle * Jeep Wrangler ** 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) The Jeep Gladiator is a midsize pickup truck manufactured by the Jeep division of Stellantis North America (formerly FCA US). It was introduced at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show on November 28, 2018, and went on sale in the spring of 2019. Base ...
: mid-size pickup truck, went on sale in early 2019 as a 2020 model. * Jeep Grand Cherokee: Mid-size sport utility vehicle * Jeep Compass: Compact sport utility vehicle * Jeep Cherokee KL: Mid-size sport utility vehicle * Jeep Commander: Mid-size sport utility vehicle, mainly for emerging markets * Jeep Wagoneer/Jeep Grand Wagoneer (WS): Full-Size SUVs *
Jeep Avenger The Jeep Avenger is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) to be produced by Jeep in 2023 mainly for the European market. Positioned below the Renegade, it will be the smallest vehicle offered by Jeep. Overview The Avenger was presented on 8 Se ...


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 – 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 Motor ...
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. 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 compa ...
(GAIG). * Colombia – Willys Colombia – at least until 1999 * Egypt – Arab Organization for Industrialization subsidiary Arab American Vehicles based in
Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metr ...
produces the Jeep Cherokee; the open-top, Wrangler-based Jeep AAV TJL. * France – Licence produced jeeps: Hotchkiss M201 and by Cournil (now Auverland) – 1952–1962 * India –
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (M&M) is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing corporation headquartered in Mumbai. It was established in 1945 as Mahindra & Mohammed and later renamed as Mahindra & Mahindra. Part of the Mahindra Group ...
– 1960s-current * Iran – Pars Khodro, ShahBaaz, Sahra, and Ahoo – ShahBaaz based on DJ series, Sahra based on Jeep Wrangler and CJ series, and Ahoo based on
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 ...
* Israel –
Automotive Industries Automotive Industries, Ltd. ( he, תעשיות רכב נצרת עלית, תע"ר, ''Ta'asiyot Rekhev Natzrat Ilit'', AIL) is an Israeli automaker and major supplier of the Israeli Security Forces. History Located in Nazareth Illit, the company ...
which produces the AIL Storm (Sufa) series of Jeep Wrangler-derivatives * Italy – 1950s * Japan – Mitsubishi Jeeps – 1953–1998 * Korea –
Asia Motors, Ltd Asia Motors Industries, traded as Asia Motors ( ko, 아시아자동차, ), was a South Korean car manufacturer established in 1965 and closed in 1999. From 1976 onwards, it was a subsidiary of Kia Motors. History In 1962, as one of the measu ...
,
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 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 ...
), Keowha, and Kia. (None use Jeep name) – 1980s-current * Mexico – VAM Jeeps – 1946–1987 * Netherlands – Nekaf Jeep, NEKAF and Kemper & Van Twist – 1954–1962 * Philippines – Jeepneys; 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, ...
, LSV (
low-speed vehicles In the United States and Canada, low-speed vehicle (LSV) regulations allow relaxed design and registration laws for four-wheel vehicles that have a maximum capable speed of about . Several other countries have similar regulations. Canada Under ...
) 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 Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them. The term ...
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, and later sold to
Nissan , trading as Nissan Motor Corporation and often shortened to Nissan, is a Japanese multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Japan. The company sells its vehicles under the Nissan, Infiniti, and Datsun bra ...
– 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 Juventus Football Club (from la, iuventūs, 'youth'; ), colloquially known as Juve (), is a professional football club based in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, that competes in the Serie A, the top tier of the Italian football league system. Founded in ...
. In August 2014, Jeep signed a sponsorship deal with the Greek football club AEK Athens F.C. 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 Juventus Football Club (from la, iuventūs, 'youth'; ), colloquially known as Juve (), is a professional football club based in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, that competes in the Serie A, the top tier of the Italian football league system. Founded in ...
*
Al-Nasr Al Nassr Football Club ( ar, نادي النصر السعودي; '' Naṣr'' meaning ''Victory'') is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955, the club plays its home games at the Mrsool Park. Their home colours are yellow ...
*
Balestier Khalsa Balestier Khalsa Football Club is a Singaporean professional football club that competes in the Singapore Premier League. Founded in 1898, the club is considered as the oldest football club in the country. History Tracing their origins all ...


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 ''Popular Science'' (also known as ''PopSci'') is an American digital magazine carrying popular science content, which refers to articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. ''Popular Science'' has won over 58 awards, incl ...

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