Vehicles known by the brand name Jeep are manufactured and sold by the Chrysler corporation, now a subsidiary of the larger automotive conglomerate Fiat. The name "Jeep" is said to derive from the military terminology for a general purpose, or "GP" vehicle. Jeeps were quite famous on numerous battlefields of the Second World War and the trade name for the now well-known line of domestic vehicles was registered as early as 1943, when the war was still far from over. Jeep is unique in the fact that it is one of the only automobile brands that specializes in four-wheel drive and off-road vehicles alone (as opposed to passenger cars or sedans).
When the war ended, it is said that many returning troops were quite impressed with the handling and off-road capabilities of these wartime vehicles and thus, auto makers capitalized on such fame and launched a new line of vehicles under the recognisable brand name "Jeep".
During the latter half of the 20th century, Jeep has gone though several different forms of ownership. This included the American Motors Corporation (AMC), Renault and finally Chrysler. Jeeps have also been produced by a number of manufacturers around the world such as Mitsubishi and ERBO (a Spanish company).
Presently, the Jeep line of vehicles is quite popular both in the United States and in many other parts of the world. Boasting an appreciable amount of interior space, excellent handling capabilities and perfect for families, the success of Jeep is expected to continue into the future.