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History Of The Jeep Brand

The Jeep brand has a long and storied lineage. The history started decades before World War II and the brand has seen a multitude of owners. In the section below, you will find some notable milestones of the brand's existence.

Year Event
Chrysler LLC declares bankruptcy in attempt to reduce outstanding debts.
Chrysler LLC exits bankruptcy as a new company clear of it's bad assets and debts. The new company, known as Chrysler Group LLC is headed by Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, former Toyota boss James Press, and C. Robert Kidder. The United States treasury, the Canadian Government, the United Auto Workers' Retiree Medical Benefits Trust, and Fiat Group become the new owners of the company.
Four Wheeler Magazine names the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon the best 4x4 vehicle of the decade.
Jeep unveils the limited production Wrangler Mountain and Wrangler Islander editions. These vehicles feature unique interiors and decal packages.
The production version of the all new 2011 Grand Cherokee (WK2) rolls off the line. The vehicle features a myriad of safety features and an available Quadra-Lift air suspension. The WK2 immediately receives rave reviews from industry publications for it's luxurious interior, on-road performance, and best-in-class off-road capability.
A refreshed 2011 Jeep Wrangler debuts with a new color-matched top option on Sahara models. The interiors of all trim levels are upgraded. Leather seating is offered as a factory option for the first time.
A refreshed 2011 Jeep Patriot debuts with new lower.Body cladding, revised front fascia, and a more upscale interior. Four wheel drive models also feature an increased ride height.
The Jeep Liberty Jet edition debuts, features include 20-inch polished aluminum wheels and blacked-out headlights.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit edition debuts, enhancing the WK2's luxury options even further with unique Black Olive burl real wood trim, a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel, and Berber floor mats. Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross-path detection systems are standard on the vehicle. The interior later earns the prestigous Ward's "10 Best Interior" award.
The refreshed 2011 Compass is unveiled with an all-new interior, a fascia inspired by the Grand Cherokee, and LED taillights.
Jeep unveils a limited production Wrangler Mojave editions. The vehicle features unique lizard-themed leather and driftwood interior. The lizard theme is continued outside with a decal packages.
The 2012 Grand Cherokee SRT-8 thunders onto stage at the New York Auto Show. With an aggressive outward appearance and a driver-centric interior, the vehicle is powered by the HEMI 6.4L engine and is capable of 0-60mph sprints in 4.8 seconds.
Under the leadership of Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler repays it's loans from the US and Canadian government in full. Fiat becomes the majority owner of Chrysler LLC.
A six speed transmission is paired to the 2012 Grand Cherokee's optional HEMI engine. This provides the award-winning flagship with a smoother driving experience and slightly improved fuel economy.
The 2012 Wrangler receives an all new powertrain including a 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine and a five speed automatic transmission. The upgrade provides a considerable boost in performance as well as better fuel economy.
The last Liberty (KK) rolls off the assembly line in Toledo, Ohio.
The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk and the Wrangler Moab enter production. These vehicles are geared toward off-road readiness with rock rails and more aggressive tread patterns.
A refreshed 2014 Grand Cherokee debuts. This refresh focuses on continuous improvement of the award-winning 2011 design by incorporating LED lighting, a high resolution navigation screen, customizable LCD instrumentation, and luxurious upholstery and trim. Fuel economy is increased to nearly 30mpg via a new eight-speed transmission and an optional 3.0L Common Rail Diesel (CRD) engine.
The Compass and Patriot are offered with an optional six-speed automatic transmission.
A replacement for the Liberty, bearing the legendary Cherokee nameplate, debuts. The vehicle receives mixed press reviews due to a radical shift in styling. The Cherokee Trailhawk trim features more aggressive approach and departure angles, rugged body cladding, and a locking rear differential.
The Jeep Renegade debuts. This subcompact SUV was designed with export markets in mind by packaging many features into a small footprint. An off-road focused Trailhawk trim option features a 1" factory suspension lift and a 20:1 crawl ratio.
Jeep unveils the 75th Anniversary Editions. With the availability of a model-specific unique green exterior color, unique interior accents and commemorative badges, these limited edition vehicles celebrate the freedom the Jeep brand has stood for since 1941.
Jeep unveils the all new Compass. The compact SUV features fresh styling, a refined nine-speed transmission, and an available off-road ready Trailhawk edition. With the introduction of this new model, Jeep discontinues production of the Patriot.
Jeep regains the most powerful SUV bragging rights with the introduction of the 707hp 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. Eschewing some off-road prowess for speed, the Trackhawk and its mighty 645lb/ft of torque can achieve 0-60mph times of under 3.5 seconds.
Jeep debuts the new Wrangler (JL) with a more aerodynamic design, increased fuel economy, an easier folding windshield, improved approach, departure, and breakover angles, improved ground clearance, LED lighting options, new safety features, and a highly upgraded interior. A turbo 4 cylinder mild-hybrid engine is offered in addition to the standard 3.6L V6.