Kaiser Jeep
Kaiser Jeep was the result of the 1953 merger of Kaiser Motors, an independent passenger car maker based in Willow Run, Michigan, with the Toledo, Ohio-based Willys-Overland Company.
| Formerly | Willys Motors (1953–63) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Kaiser Motors Willys-Overland |
| Founded | 1953 |
| Defunct | 1970 |
| Fate | Bought out by American Motors in 1970 |
| Successor | |
Key people | Stephen A. Girard Jr. (president) |
| Products | Trucks Automobiles Military vehicles Sport utility vehicles |
Willys-Overland had been at one point before World War II the U.S.'s second-largest car-maker after Ford, but their success waned during the 1930s. Willys survived during the war by getting the primary contract to build the U.S. World War II jeeps for the American and Allied armed forces. From 1945, Willys focused almost exclusively on selling Jeep branded vehicles, both civilian / commercial, as well as government / military jeeps.
For Kaiser, the Jeep brand and its models were considered the crown jewels in the merger with Willys-Overland, and in 1955, Kaiser phased out all Kaiser and Willys passenger car lines, and Kaiser (initially still under the name 'Willys Motors') became entirely focused on Jeep products in most markets. In 1963, the company consolidated all corporate holdings under the name of Kaiser Jeep Corporation, discarding the Willys name.
Following this, American Motors Corporation (AMC) entered into negotiations with Kaiser Jeep, to purchase the company. The deal was finalized in 1970, and Kaiser Jeep became "Jeep Corporation," a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC.