Jeep Brand Sold --- Again

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:19 pm

Wonderful ain't it?

Outfit called Stellantis in the Netherlands now owns it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeep

Maybe they'll finally quit using the name Willys? Cracks me up seeing a 2015 jeep whatever model with the name Willys plastered all over it.

Post by **wesk** » Tue Feb 09, 2021 11:50 pm

Ownership chronology
1944–1953: Willys-Overland
1953–1964: Kaiser Jeep (calling themselves "Willys Motors")
1964–1970: Kaiser Jeep
1970–1987: AMC (w/ Renault controlling production in 1986)
1987–1998: Chrysler
1998–2007: DaimlerChrysler AG
2007–2009: Chrysler LLC
2009–2013: Chrysler Group LLC - Fiat Group Automobiles
2014–2021: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
2021–present: Stellantis

Stellantis = Stellantis N.V. is a multinational automotive manufacturing corporation headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands,[4][5] which was formed by the merger of French automaker Groupe PSA and Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (following completion of a 50-50 merger agreement).[4] The group includes 16 brands: Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Mopar, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall. The name Stellantis is exclusively in use as a corporate brand, while its brands' names and logos remain unchanged.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 9:49 am

Well, Ol’ Willys is in some pretty good company name-wise, in spite of Enzo’s comment!

Post by **wesk** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 11:14 am

If you research all the major auto manufacturers parentage up to today many will surprise you!

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Thu Feb 11, 2021 8:05 pm

Yup, nothing quite like a great original American brand name like Jeep being sold yet again to the highest bidder, even another foreign one (except maybe until Beijing buys it). Capitalism at its finest. Good stuff.

The great Jeep brand name hasn't been owned by an American company for more than 20 years. I wonder why that is sometimes.

I tried to research if Mr. Willys' name is still trademarked today. Couldn't find anything. Doesn't look like it is, but yet it must be the way they plaster it all over the late models that only have a grill in common with the original design.

If they don't get off the stick pretty soon that new Bronco is going to eat their sagging sales lunch.

Pretty sure Ford still has their original parents. And Ford didn't have to take a tax-payer bailout like GM (Government Motors) did to do it.

Maybe they have a chance now that Mr. Springsteen stepped on his crank (shaft) the other day....

Post by **wesk** » Fri Feb 12, 2021 1:44 am

Ford went a very different route with Henry's affection for the old country. They took the company international before WWII by opening overseas subsidiaries in several countries. On an interesting note Ford Werkes or Ford of Germany was confiscated by Hitler and Germany never returned it's ownership to Ford.

Post by **Ryan_Miller** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 9:56 am

You would think after WWII Ford would have gotten that back. Maybe the U.S. compensated them as part of the rebuilding of Europe?

Post by **wesk** » Tue Feb 16, 2021 10:41 am

Henry was considered a Nazi sympathizer during WWII. The loss of his investments in Germany's auto industry were due to his poor judgement of the political situation in Germany at the time of his investment. The result is very common when you invest in a foreign economy that is on very shakey footing and becomes intangled in a war. The outcome may have been different for Henry had he actually owned the corporation Ford of Germany.