American Motors Corporation (AMC) was formed in 1954 through a merger between Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson to compete with the Big Three automakers. By 1958, AMC phased out Nash and Hudson brands in favor of Rambler, focusing on compact, fuel-efficient cars. In 1970, AMC acquired Kaiser-Jeep, adding popular SUVs and military contracts to its portfolio. Financial difficulties and increasing competition, especially from Japanese automakers, led AMC to partner with Renault, which eventually owned nearly half the company. However, challenges persisted, and in 1987 Chrysler acquired AMC, primarily to gain the valuable Jeep brand and its production assets.
