Jeep

Prior to 1940, the term "jeep" had been used as U.S. Army slang for new recruits or vehicles. The World War II "jeep" that went into production in 1941 specifically tied the name to this light military 4×4, arguably making them the oldest four-wheel drive mass-production vehicles now known as SUVs. Doug Stewart noted: "The spartan, cramped, and unstintingly functional jeep became the ubiquitous World War II four-wheeled personification of Yankee ingenuity and cocky, can-do determination."

When it became clear that the United States would be involved in the European theater of World War II, the Army contacted 135 companies to create working prototypes of a four-wheel drive reconnaissance car. Only two companies responded: the American Bantam Car Company and Willys-Overland. The Army set a deadline of 49 days to supply a working prototype. American Bantam hired Karl Probst, a freelance designer, who drafted the full plans for the Bantam prototype known as the BRC or Bantam Reconnaissance Car in just two days. 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 and driven to Camp Holabird, Maryland on September 23, 1940, for Army testing. The vehicle met all the Army's criteria except engine torque.

The Army, believing Bantam lacked the production capacity, supplied the Bantam design to Willys and Ford, encouraging them to enhance it. 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, Willys-Overland's chief engineer Delmar "Barney" Roos modified the design to use Willys's "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. The familiar pressed-metal Jeep grille was a Ford design feature and incorporated into 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 Willys' design. Willys supplied Ford with a complete set of plans and specifications. American Bantam built approximately 2,700 of their BRC-40 design and spent the rest of the war building heavy-duty trailers for the Army.

Final production version jeeps built by Willys-Overland were the Model MB, while those built by Ford were the Model GPW. The versions produced by Ford had every component marked with an "F". Early on, Ford also stamped their name in large letters in their trademark script on the rear panel of their jeeps. Willys followed this pattern by stamping 'Willys' into several body parts, but the U.S. government objected, and both parties stopped this practice in 1942. No "Jeep"-branded vehicles were built until the 1945 Willys CJ-2A.

The cost per vehicle trended upwards as the war continued. Willys-Overland and Ford 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, as firefighting pumpers, field ambulances, and tractors. An amphibious jeep, the model GPA, or "seep" (Sea Jeep), was built for Ford in modest numbers but was not considered a success. As part of the war effort, nearly 30% of all Jeep production was supplied to Great Britain and to the Soviet Red Army.

The Jeep has been widely imitated around the world. The Land Rover 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 described the Jeep as a masterpiece of functionalist design. Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent Ernie Pyle called the jeep "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.

The Jeepney is a unique type of taxi or bus created in the Philippines. The first Jeepneys were military-surplus MBs and GPWs left behind after World War II. Jeepneys were built from Jeeps by lengthening and widening the rear "tub" of the vehicle, allowing them to carry more passengers.

In the United States military, the Jeep has been supplanted by a number of vehicles, of which the latest is the Humvee.

After World War II, Jeep began to experiment with new designs, including a model that could drive underwater. On February 1, 1950, a contract 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 it could properly breathe underwater.

In 1965, Jeep developed the M715 1.25-short-ton army truck, a militarized version of the civilian J-series Jeep truck, which served extensively in the Vietnam War. 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.

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. Joe Frazer, Willys-Overland President from 1939 to 1944, claimed to have coined the word jeep by slurring the initials G.P.

An alternative view suggests that soldiers informally named it after Eugene the Jeep, a character in the Thimble Theatre comic strip and cartoons created by 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, tractors supplied by Minneapolis Moline 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, 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 1⁄2-ton command vehicle. Also referred to as 'any small plane, helicopter, or gadget.'"

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. When asked what it was called, Hausmann answered, "It's a jeep." Katharine Hillyer's article, published nationally on February 19, 1941, 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, 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." 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 4×4 with the name.

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. Willys 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.

FCA US LLC, 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, was incorporated into the "standardized jeep" design.

The history of the HMMWV (Humvee) 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.

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.

The Jeep's design does have some drawbacks. The short wheelbase and lighter weight make climbing steeper inclines more difficult, as the weight cannot be as evenly distributed on an angle compared to longer wheelbase off-roaders. The usage of solid axles affects ground clearance, as their design makes them the lowest point to the ground regardless of the height of the body. Earlier Jeeps lacked basic safety equipment such as doors, seatbelts or roll cages, making them extremely dangerous if rolled over.

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. 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 (AMC) in turn purchased Kaiser's money-losing Jeep operations in 1970. 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. 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 began investing in AMC in 1979. Renault began selling Jeeps through their European dealerships soon thereafter. 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.

Chrysler Corporation bought out AMC in 1987, primarily for Jeep. Jeep was the only AMC brand continued by Chrysler after the acquisition, partnered with the new Eagle marque as the Jeep-Eagle division. Chrysler subsequently merged with Daimler-Benz in 1998 and folded into DaimlerChrysler. During this time, the Chrysler and Jeep sales channels were combined. DaimlerChrysler eventually sold most of its interest in Chrysler to a private equity 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, EBRO in Spain, and several in South America. Mitsubishi built more than 30 models in Japan between 1953 and 1998.

Toledo, Ohio has been the headquarters of the Jeep brand since its inception. The Jeep Wrangler is built in the city currently, 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 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.

1944–1953: Willys-Overland

1953–1964: Kaiser Jeep (calling themselves "Willys Motors")

1964–1970: Kaiser Jeep

1970–1987: AMC (w/ Renault controlling production in 1986)

1987–1998: Chrysler Corporation

1998–2007: DaimlerChrysler

2007–2009: Chrysler LLC

2009–2013: Chrysler Group LLC – Fiat Group Automobiles

2014–2021: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2021–present: Stellantis

The CJ (for "Civilian Jeep") series were 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

1945–1949 CJ-2A

1949–1953 CJ-3A

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 1946–1965 Willys Jeep Station Wagon and the 1947–1965 Willys Jeep Truck 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.

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

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

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

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

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-)

1984–2001 XJ Cherokee

1984–1990 XJ Wagoneer

1984–1985 Broughwood

1984–1990 Limited

1986–1992 Jeep Comanche (MJ)

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 (15 in longer than a standard TJ) Rubicon, Sport, X, Se models

2004–2005 Willys Edition

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 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

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

2011–2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2

2021–present Jeep Grand Cherokee WL

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

2006–2010 Jeep Commander (XK)

2006 Base

2007–2010 Sport

2006–2010 Limited

2007–2009 Overland

2007–2017 Jeep Compass MK49

2017–present Jeep Compass MP/552

2025–present Jeep Compass J4U

2006–2017 Jeep Patriot (MK74): Compact sport utility vehicle

Jeep Renegade: Subcompact crossover, mainly for Latin America

Jeep Avenger: Subcompact crossover, mainly for the European market

Jeep Compass: Compact crossover

Jeep Commander: Mid-size crossover, mainly for emerging markets

Jeep Cherokee: Mid-size crossover

Jeep Grand Cherokee: Mid-size crossover, available in two wheelbases with two or three rows of seating

Jeep Wagoneer S: Mid-sized upmarket battery-electric crossover

Jeep Grand Wagoneer: Full-size three-row SUV available in two wheelbases

Jeep Recon: Mid-size battery-electric offroad SUV

Jeep Wrangler: Midsized 2- or 4-door offroad SUV with solid axles and a removable roof

Jeep Gladiator: Mid-sized 4-door pickup truck with solid axles and a removable roof

J8: Mid-Size military utility vehicle based on the previous generation Wrangler; Produced by AIL, AAV, and AEV

TJL: Mid-sized 2-door pickup truck based on the previous generation Wrangler; Produced by AAV

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 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 (GAIG).

Colombia – Willys Colombia – at least until 1999

Egypt – Arab Organization for Industrialization subsidiary Arab American Vehicles based in Cairo 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 – 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

Israel – Automotive Industries which produces the AIL Storm (Sufa) series of Jeep Wrangler-derivatives

Italy – 1950s

Japan – Mitsubishi Jeeps – 1953–1998

South Korea – Asia Motors, Ltd, Dong A Motors (SsangYong Motor Company), 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, 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 Jeep-like 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, 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 is also a brand of apparel of outdoor lifestyle sold under license. In April 2012 Jeep signed a shirt sponsorship deal worth €35 m with Italian football club Juventus. 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.

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