Willys

Willys, formally Willys-Overland Motors, was an American automobile manufacturer established in 1912 when John North Willys acquired the Overland Automotive Company and formed Willys-Overland Motors. The company produced a range of passenger cars and light trucks under the Willys and Overland brands, including the Willys Whippet, introduced in the 1920s as an affordable small car that helped broaden the company’s market.

During World War II, Willys-Overland built the Willys MB, a light, all-purpose military vehicle essential to Allied operations. The vehicle and its concept gave rise to the civilian Jeep, with the CJ series beginning after the war and helping popularize the rugged, utilitarian vehicle for civilian use. The Jeep name became closely associated with Willys’ postwar products and helped define the brand’s legacy.

In 1953, facing financial pressures and intense competition, Willys-Overland was acquired by Kaiser Motors and reorganized as Kaiser-Willys. The Jeep line continued to operate and expand under Kaiser, but in 1963 the Jeep division was sold to American Motors Corporation (AMC). The Willys name gradually faded from mainstream branding, while the Jeep line persisted under AMC and later Chrysler, now part of Stellantis.

Today, Willys is remembered primarily for its role in the development of the Jeep brand and its impact on military and civilian light utility vehicles during and after World War II.