Kaiser (automobile) - Definition

Kaiser Motors, a subsiderary of Kaiser Industries, was a manufacturer of automobiles in the United States from 1946 - 1963 based in Willow Run, Michigan (USA). The company was also known as Kaiser Frazier from 1946 to 1951.

Its founder, Henry J. Kaiser was a United States industrialist who started making an automobile with the brand name Kaiser after World War II. He also built a small car called the Henry J. The Henry J was also sold through Sears-Roebuck catalogs under the brand name Allstate In 1953, Kaiser purchased the assets of the Willy-Overland Corporation, makers of Willys brand compact cars and Jeep brand name products.

Production of Kaiser and Willys automobiles ceased during the 1955 model year, but continued the production of Willys Jeeps in Toledo, Ohio. Kaiser continued automobile production in Argentina and Brazil using the dies formerly employed in the U.S. well into the 1960s.

The company changed its name to Kaiser-Jeep in 1963, and was subsequently bought out by American Motors in 1970. List of automobile manufacturers