Hummer
This article is about the Hummer brand. For the Hummer H1, see Hummer H1. For the military's Hummer, see Humvee. For other uses, see Hummer (disambiguation).
Hummer |
Former type | Division |
Industry | Automotive |
Fate | defunct |
Founded | 1992 |
Defunct | 2010 |
Headquarters | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
Products | (H1) pickup truck, SUV (H2, H3), Sport utility vehicles |
Parent | General Motors |
Website | Hummer.com |
2006 Hummer lineup: H3, H1, and H2 (L-R)
Hummer was a brand of trucks and SUVs marketed since 1992 by AM General when it began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee.
In 1998 General Motors purchased the brand name and marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the Humvee, and the Hummer H2 and the Hummer H3 models that were based on other, smaller civilian-market GM platforms.
The business viability of the Hummer brand was under review by GM management since 2008. The brand was not transferred to Motors Liquidation Company as part of the GM bankruptcy in 2009; instead, it was retained by GM in order to investigate selling the brand.
Chinese automaker Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company announced in 2009 that it would acquire the Hummer brand, pending government approvals. However, the Chinese industrial equipment maker withdrew its bid after failing to win approval from Chinese regulators.
According to Reuters, the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China rejected the deal on February 24, 2010,
but a spokesperson for ministry denies that it rejected the application that has been stalled for eight months.
At the end of February 2010, General Motors announced it would begin dismantling the Hummer brand.
Two days later, the automaker announced it had been approached with new offers for the brand after the deal with Sichuan Tengzhong could not be completed.
By April 2010, any sale of the brand became unlikely as inventory was depleted and Hummer dealerships began shutting down.
After filling a rental car fleet order, the last Hummer H3 rolled off line at Shreveport on May 24, 2010.
Models
Hummer was the only brand in the United States whose entire model range lineup came with a low-range transfer case, relatively high-ground clearance, and off-road tires.
Hummer H1
The first vehicle in the Hummer range was the Hummer H1, based on the Humvee. Originally released in 1992, this vehicle was designed by American Motors' AM General subsidiary for the U.S. Military. Five Five years previously, AMC had been bought by Chrysler.
Hummer H2The Hummer H2 was the second vehicle in the Hummer range. There were two variations: the H2 SUV and H2 SUT. Mechanically similar to the Chevrolet Suburban.
Hummer H3
The H3 was the smallest of the Hummer models and is based on the GMT355 platform shared with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks.
Hummer concept car
The Hummer HX was developed in 2008 as an open-air, two-door off-road concept car, smaller than other Hummer models.
Aftermarket H2
A stretched Hummer H2 was customized with six wheels and marketed as an H6.
Plug-in Hybrid
Raser Technologies of Utah was to use technology similar to that in the Chevy Volt. Raser unveiled the prototype the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit.
Using their E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) powertrain technology, the Hummer plug-in hybrid would run up to 40 miles per day on its battery alone, then a small 4-cylinder internal combustion engine would start to generate more electricity.
Hummer Images