Jeep

Jeep has an extensive legacy of building SUVs and trucks capable of extreme off-roading adventures. The brand introduced the first civilian Jeep, dubbed the CJ, in the mid-1940s. It was designed with construction workers and farmers in mind and offered niceties such as a spare tire, tailgate and an external fuel cap. Jeep expanded the lineup to include the CJ-3B and CJ-5, which were military-style SUVs influenced by the vehicles made for the Korean War. The CJ-5 was built for 30 years after its initial introduction.

The Wagoneer SUV debuted in the 1960s, introducing Jeep to families and featuring an automatic transmission. A decade later the now defunct American Motors Corporation, or AMC, acquired Jeep rolled out the Cherokee compact SUV in 1984. The Comanche pickup debuted two years later. In 1987, the year CJ series was replaced with the Wrangler nameplate, Chrysler gained control of AMC and Jeep became Jeep/Eagle, a non-car-focused specialty division of the company. The production version of the Grand Cherokee launched for the 1993 model year as the first Chrysler-badged Jeep product. Over thirty years later it’s still one of Jeep’s strongest product offerings, but success didn’t always come easily.

In 1998, Chrysler merged with German manufacturer Daimler-Benz AG, creating DaimlerChrysler AG, which retired the Eagle brand leaving Jeep to stand alone. In 2007 after several missteps the partnership proved unsuccessful and the Chrysler Group was sold to a private equity firm. But on the brink of bankruptcy during 2009 financial crisis the company took a $8 billion federal bailout reorganized itself, leaving Jeep to focus on its own identity. In 2012, Italian automaker Fiat took a majority stake in the company and in 2014 the company emerged as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Though Jeep struggled during the many changeovers with front-wheel-drive failures like the Jeep Liberty, it’s managed to remain one of FCA’s more profitable divisions. Flagship products like the Wrangler and the Grand Cherokee helped Jeep retain its worth as rugged, lifestyle-oriented brand. Today the Wrangler’s capability remains unmatched and the Grand Cherokee still tops the midsized SUV segment in popularity. With help from Fiat, Jeep now can offer buyers an affordable entry point into the coveted brand with products like the Renegade. And the much-anticipated Gladiator pickup debuted in 2020, filling the gap left by the discontinued Comanche.