Follow Us
© 2026 White Buffalo Creative – Privacy Policy
By 1987, AMC was in dire financial straits, losing roughly . Despite its financial woes, AMC had recently developed products that would define the next decade of American driving, including the revolutionary unibody Jeep Cherokee (XJ) . Chrysler's then-CEO, Lee Iacocca , recognized that while Chrysler's lineup was heavy on sedans, it lacked a presence in the emerging SUV market.
officially acquired Jeep on August 5, 1987 , as part of its landmark acquisition of the American Motors Corporation (AMC) . This merger is often cited as one of the most strategic moves in automotive history, as it allowed Chrysler to capture the "crown jewel" of the struggling AMC: the Jeep brand. The Acquisition Context what year did chrysler buy jeep
Today, after several more corporate shifts—including the merger in 1998 and the formation of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in 2014—Jeep remains a cornerstone of the multinational conglomerate Stellantis , which was formed in 2021. By 1987, AMC was in dire financial straits, losing roughly
Chrysler purchased AMC for approximately —equivalent to over $3.7 billion today . While the deal included AMC’s other assets, Chrysler's primary goal was to bring Jeep under its umbrella. Historical Ownership Before Chrysler officially acquired Jeep on August 5, 1987 ,
Jeep’s path to Chrysler was paved by several previous owners:
The original manufacturer of the military Jeep during World War II.