Willys was an American car brand that operated from 1912 to 1955, when it was acquired by Kaiser Motors. The company was best known for its Jeep vehicles, especially the Jeep CJ series, which was an iconic off-road vehicle that first came out in 1945. Willys also produced a range of cars, from small economy cars to luxury cars, as well as a range of military vehicles. Willys is remembered for its pioneering role in the development of the SUV, and for its iconic Jeep vehicles, which remain popular today.
History
Willys was an American automobile company founded in 1908 by John North Willys. The company initially manufactured cars, but eventually became known for their Jeep brand of vehicles. Willys was the first to produce a civilian vehicle with four wheel drive, which was the Jeep CJ-2A. The company also produced the iconic Jeep Willys MB, which was used by the military during World War II. Willys went through various mergers and acquisitions until it was eventually sold to Kaiser Motors in 1953. Kaiser Motors rebranded the company as Kaiser-Jeep in 1963. The Jeep brand was sold to Chrysler in 1987 and is now owned by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
