Is Jeep The Same As GM? [Who Owns and Makes These Cars]
Jeep is an American automobile brand and a division of FCA US LLC, a wholly-owned Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) subsidiary.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is an Italian-American conglomerate that ranks among the world’s largest automakers. This company also owns several well-known automobile brands, like Maserati, Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo.
On the other hand, Jeep has not always been manufactured by FCA. Over the last few decades, it has undergone several ownership transitions.
Is Jeep currently made by GM? [Who makes these cars]
General Motors is an American multinational corporation with its headquarters in Detroit. It is also in the business of designing, manufacturing, and distributing automobiles and auto parts. You have arrived at the right place if you are curious about whether or not Jeep is a GM brand. This article gives a rundown of the several companies that have owned Jeep since it was founded.
Who Manufactures Jeep?
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is also known as FCA. It manufactures commercial and passenger vehicles under the Jeep, Maserati, Ferrari, Dodge, Alfa Romeo, and Abarth brands. The company owns twenty-one different automotive models, including the Alfa Romeo, Abarth, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and other Jeep models.
Who owned Jeep before FCA?
Back in the 1940s, Willys-Overland launched the first models of what came to be known as Jeeps for use as military vehicles. On June 13, 1950, after many attempts, Willy was finally successful in registering a trademark for the official “Jeep” name.
Henry J. Kaiser acquired Willys-Overlander for $60.8 million in 1953 and renamed the firm Willys Motors Inc. In 1963, it changed its name to Kaiser-Jeep Corporation. The company was eventually sold to American Motors Corporation (AMC) in 1970 for around $75 million.
When Did Chrysler acquire Jeep?
In 1987, following its $1.5 billion acquisition of AMC, Chrysler bought Jeep. They continued to manufacture Jeeps until 1998 when they merged with Daimler-Benz.
Daimler completed the acquisition of Chrysler through a merger of equals for approximately $36 billion, and the resulting company was referred to as Daimler Chrysler AG. After around eight years of ownership, Daimler Chrysler decided to sell Jeep to a private equity firm in 2007.
In 2007, sales of Chrysler vehicles were declining, and the cost of gas was rising at an alarming rate. Because of this circumstance, the company found it extremely difficult to compete against GM and Ford.
Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm, bought Jeep in 2007 and remained the sole owner of the brand. Daimler Chrysler sold the company’s majority stake to them. Sadly, after only two years as the owner of Jeep, Cerberus fell out of business and declared bankruptcy.
Which Company Owns Jeep Today?
Since 2014, when Fiat acquired a 100% ownership stake in Chrysler, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have been and still is the current owner of Jeep. Fiat and Chrysler Automobiles are the results of a merger between the two companies. Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ram, and Maserati are also part of FCA.
Where Are Jeeps Manufactured?
Jeep has ten manufacturing plants located in six different nations, and the company’s cars are sold in more than 140 countries across the globe. The majority of Jeeps are manufactured in the United States.
The plants are in the United States, Italy, China, Brazil, Mexico, and India. Most of these international factories are responsible for producing transmission and powertrain components, although most of the assembly takes place in the United States.
Which Models of Jeep Are Made in Italy?
Although the vast majority of Jeeps are put together in the United States, certain models, such as the Jeep Renegade, are assembled in Melfi, Italy. The Fiat 500X and the Jeep Renegade are both manufactured in Melfi. Both models share some similarities.
Jeep Wranglers are built in the United States at the Toledo Assembly Complex in Toledo, Ohio. This facility has been manufacturing Jeep Wranglers for a long time and employs close to 7,000 people.
It encompasses a total land area of 312 acres and has floor space measuring 3.64 million square feet. The Toledo North Assembly Plant and the Toledo South Assembly Plant are both parts of this facility. Toledo South Plant is where the Jeep Wranglers are processed.
Jeep Wranglers are being assembled at the Toledo Assembly Complex to this day; the complex also offers a variety of economic benefits to the surrounding area.
Current Condition of Jeep Ownership
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles currently owns Jeep. However, in 2019, FCA signed a contract with PSA, a European car alliance.
PSA is a French auto manufacturer that produces Peugeot, Opel, Vauxhall, DS, and Citroen vehicles. According to CNBC, once their 50-50 merger is sealed, FCA and PSA will become the fourth largest auto manufacturers. This merger will help both companies cut down on costs and become more competitive in the auto industry.
Conclusion
If you’re still wondering if GM owns Jeep, the answer is No. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is the company that owns Jeep. Despite being one of the world’s largest vehicle manufacturers, General Motors Company has never owned Jeep.
