In the Philippines, jeepneys have been in use for almost 80 years. It should come as no surprise that these cars have established themselves as national symbols and cultural icons that represent creativity. These automobiles are built on a roughly 80-year-old design, nevertheless. Willys General Purpose vehicles (GPs: Jeeps) from World War II that the US troops left behind while occupying the nation served as the basis for the first Jeepneys. The name of the vehicle is a combination of the phrases jeep and jitney (passenger-carrying vehicle). Industrious Filipinos converted these vehicles to carry passengers and function as public transit, charging a nominal price for a specific route, after the war, when most of the country was in ruins and disarray. The Jeepney has been in use in the nation since the 1940s, and even though many of them are no longer made from genuine Willys Jeeps, the design has persisted. Its chassis, body, and other components are made from various surplus truck parts. Its stainless steel body panels are frequently decorated with murals, decals, and the recognizable horses on the hood, visor, and crown over the windshield. The vehicle has only been lengthened to accommodate more passengers and elaborate decorations since the 1940s. Yet, very nothing more was done to improve their effectiveness, safety, or passenger comfort. These jeepneys are also operated under individual franchises (one jeepney, one franchise), which makes it challenging to monitor and manage them.
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