Our Story
American
Bantam®
Born in Georgia, USA. Built on a legacy no other brand can claim.
American Bantam invented the Jeep. American Bantam is building again.
Who We Are
The Company
Behind the Jeep
American Bantam® Car Corporation is an American company with a founding story unlike any other in the automotive industry. In 1940, American Bantam built the first Jeep — a prototype that changed the outcome of World War II. The world remembers Willys. We remember who built the first one.
Decades later, the American Bantam name and trademark have been revived with one clear mission: build rugged, American-assembled off-road trucks right here in Georgia, USA. American steel. American workers. No asterisks.
“When a company’s name contains the word American, the products they sell in the USA must be built in the USA. No two ways about it.”— Charlie Paglee, Chairman & CEO, American Bantam® Car Corporation
We are not a startup chasing a trend. We are a registered U.S. corporation, the rightful holder of the American Bantam® trademark, and the direct continuation of a manufacturing legacy that dates to 1935. The mission is simple: build trucks that work, built by Americans, sold to Americans, at a price Americans can afford.
Leadership
The Man
Building It
Chairman & CEO
Charles D. Paglee
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Charles D. Paglee is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Bantam® Car Corporation. His founding vision is direct and non-negotiable: if an American company puts the word “American” in its name, the trucks it sells in the United States must be built in the United States.
Under his leadership, American Bantam has been reestablished as an active U.S. manufacturer — with the trademark, the heritage, and the operational roadmap to back it up. The vehicle lineup, the Georgia assembly focus, and the commitment to American steel all trace directly to his personal conviction that American manufacturing can and must be revived.
Charlie’s approach to the business is the same as his approach to building trucks: no filler, no shortcuts, no asterisks. The mission is clear. The work is underway. Born in Georgia, USA.
What We Stand For
Built on Three
Simple Truths
Assembled in America
American steel. American workers. American assembly. Every vehicle that carries the American Bantam® name is built right here in the USA — not as a marketing line, but as the operating model.
Built to Go Anywhere
Roll cage. All-terrain tires. 2WD/4WD capability. Trail-ready out of the box. Our trucks are engineered for real work in real conditions — specs confirmed at production, currently $TBD.
An American Original
No other brand can claim what American Bantam® can. We invented the Jeep in 1940. We earned the heritage. Now we’re building on it — honestly, with receipts.
Our Heritage
September 23, 1940.
The day the Jeep was born.
In 49 days, American Bantam built a prototype that changed the course of World War II. The world gave the credit to Willys. We remember who built the first one.
Reserve Your American Bantam®
No payment required. Born in Georgia, USA. Secure your place in American manufacturing history.