It started in 1955 as a World War II jeep built under license and in many respects was little changed when production ended in 1966.

The M201 employed a simple conventional structure, designed around a light metal frame with two rigid axles suspended on leaf springs.

There was no limited slip differential but the vehicle's light weight and the available gearing nevertheless provided excellent off-road capability.

The military defined the M201 as a VLTT ('Véhicule Léger Tout Terrain' aka "Light all-terrain vehicle").

For use in Northern Africa the company developed a "Sahara" version, featuring a strengthened chassis, firmer springing at the back, a supplementary tool box under the front grille and a second fuel tank beneath the passenger seat.

Directly after World War II, the French government was presented by the US Army with 22,000 Willys Jeeps and Ford GPWs.

In the late 1940s the military intended to replace the Hotchkiss M201 from 1949 with the Delahaye VLR, a vehicle that had much in common with the Jeep, but which was newly designed and French.

In January 1961 the civilian version was homologated with the government as the JH-102, replacing the JH-101 and entering production little by little during the ensuing months, albeit with few obvious differences.