Jeep

Founded around 1941 in Toledo, Ohio, the company known today as Jeep was an enormous contributor in wartime efforts and served as the primary, light 4-wheel drive mass-production vehicle of the U.S. Army and the Allies in World War II.

Originally produced by Willys-Overland, the vehicles were given the slang name of “Jeep” in the military, and it quickly stuck. The registered trademark was first owned by Willys-Overland and has been passed through the multiple holding companies under which the Jeep brand has operated.

There are a few different theories of the origins of the name “Jeep.” Some say it may have come from the military abbreviation “GP” which means “Government Purposes” or “General Purposes.” Others argue that soldiers named it after Eugene the Jeep, Popeye’s agile jungle pet.

The Jeep has been called one of the best inventions of the war and was been so popular that it is one of the most copied military vehicles in the world as other countries have used it as their prototype to manufacture their own wartime vehicles. Today, however, the Humvee has replaced the Jeep as the main military vehicle for the United States. Beyond just military vehicles, the Jeep was also the key inspiration behind other consumer SUVs, particularly the Land Rover.

Jeep is now a division of Fiat Chrysler and has been since 1987. Before that they were under the American Motors Corp., and then previously beneath Kaiser Motors. Arguably the oldest mass-produced four-wheel drive vehicles, the Jeep brand is also heralded as the most awarded SUV brand ever.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, in particular, has won a multitude of awards. The brand also previously produced pickup trucks.

The Jeep brand boasts a unique community of adventurers and thrill-seekers who love the great outdoors. Known for their maneuverability, traction, ground clearance and water fording, Jeeps can transverse even the most uneven and treacherous terrain.

The Jeep Badge of Honor program is a unique way for Jeep owners to unleash their wild side and conquer difficult trails. Through a smartphone app and an online portal, Jeep users can access and complete 44 or more official Jeep rated trails across the nation to earn hard badges for their vehicle. Participants are also encouraged to earn trail points by sharing their badges, commenting on others’ adventures, and uploading pictures of their own trips. Trail points can earn users additional badges ranging from Newbie all the way to Trail Expert.

Current models of the Jeep include the Compass, Renegade, Wrangler, Cherokee and Patriot. The 1992 Wrangler Sahara was used in the original Jurassic Park film and military versions have been used in the Indiana Jones movies. Jeep’s recent slogan is “Go Anywhere, Do Anything.” They are the official sponsors of the World Surf League, USA Basketball, USO, and the famous Italian Football Club, Juventus.