Linguists call it genericization — the moment a brand name becomes shorthand for an entire product category. In the automotive world, few names have achieved that status more completely than Jeep, which drivers routinely use to describe any rugged 4×4 or off-road-capable SUV, regardless of who built it. But here’s the uncomfortable question Jeep’s product planners probably don’t love asking: what happens when a rival starts building a vehicle that fits that description better than Jeep itself does?
