Jeep’s current lineup exclusively features sport utility vehicles, encompassing both crossovers and fully off-road-capable SUVs, including a pickup truck. In the past, Jeep’s product range included various pickups, small vans, and a handful of roadsters. Notably, some of Jeep’s vehicles, like the Grand Cherokee, venture into the luxury SUV segment—an area pioneered by the 1963 Wagoneer. In 2016, Jeep achieved global sales of 1.4 million SUVs, a significant increase from 500,000 in 2008. Two-thirds of these sales were in North America, solidifying Jeep as Fiat-Chrysler’s top-selling brand in the U.S. during the first half of 2017. The brand holds a strong presence in the U.S., with over 2400 dealerships authorized to sell Jeep-branded vehicles. If Jeep were to operate as a separate entity, its estimated value would range between $22 and $33.5 billion, slightly surpassing the entire value of FCA (US). Christian Meunier currently serves as the President of the Jeep brand worldwide.

Before 1940, the term “jeep” was Army slang for recruits or vehicles. However, the World War II “jeep” that entered production in 1941 specifically associated the name with this light military 4×4, marking it as one of the oldest mass-produced four-wheel-drive vehicles, now recognized as SUVs. During World War II and the postwar era, the Jeep became the primary light four-wheel-drive vehicle for the U.S. Armed Forces and the Allies. The term “jeep” gained global popularity in the aftermath of the war. The Jeep’s spartan yet functional design made it an emblem of Yankee ingenuity and determination. It played a crucial role as a predecessor to subsequent military utility vehicles, like the Humvee, and influenced civilian counterparts like the original Series I Land Rover. Numerous Jeep variants, serving both military and civilian roles, have been developed in various nations.

Jeep’s headquarters has been located in Toledo, Ohio, since the production launch of the first CJ (Civilian Jeep) models by Willys-Overland in 1945. The Jeep Wrangler series, introduced in 1986 and featuring solid axles and an open top, has been a consistent part of the lineup, often considered central to the brand’s identity, much like the 911 is to Porsche. Notably, two Jeep models, the CJ-5 and the SJ Wagoneer, enjoyed remarkable three-decade production runs within a single-body generation.