Hummer USA was a brand of trucks and SUVs. It was first marketed in 1992 when AM General started selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. General Motors (GM) bought the brand name in 1998. GM marketed three vehicles: the original Hummer H1, based on the military Humvee, as well as the H2 and H3 models that were based on smaller, civilian-market GM platforms. Hummer’s capability in the economic downturn was being questioned by 2008, and it was placed under review by GM management. Rather than being transferred to the Motors Liquidation Company as part of the GM bankruptcy in 2009, the brand was held by GM, in order to investigate its sale.
Although the automaker declared that it had been approached with new offers, by April 2010, any sale became unlikely, as inventory was reduced and Hummer dealerships started shutting down. After filling a rental-car fleet order, the last Hummer H3 rolled off the line at Shreveport on May 24, 2010. AM General, the original maker of Hummer, lost its bid to manufacture the HMMWV’s replacement for the U.S. military in 2015.
History
Origin
AM General Corporation first designed the original Hummers, a wholly owned subsidiary American Motors Corporation (AMC), and manufactured in its Mishawaka, Indiana, assembly plant. However, the United States Army was seeking contractors for a new “High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle” in 1979, which could follow the tracks and ruts of full size army trucks (HMMWV). Also, among the four competitors for the contract, AM General designed an entirely new vehicle to meet the Army’s requirements. In less than one year, it was the first to deliver a prototype vehicle. Initial production versions were transfered to the Army’s proving grounds in April 1982.
Also, after testing was completed AM General was awarded the contract to supply its HMMWV to the United States armed forces. So, AM General started selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee vehicle to the public under the brand name “Hummer” in 1992.
GM purchase
AM General sold the brand name to General Motors in December 1999, but continued to manufacture the vehicles. GM was responsible for the marketing and distribution of all Hummers manufactured by AM General. After some time, GM also launched two of its own design models, the H2 and H3, and renamed the original vehicle H1. AM General continued to manufacture the H1 until it was stopped in 2006, and was contracted by GM to manufacture the H2. On June 3, 2008, one day prior to GM’s annual shareholder meeting, Rick Wagoner, GM’s CEO at that time, said the brand was being reviewed, and had the possibility of either being sold, having the production line completely redesigned, or being ended.
Failed sale
On June 1, 2009, as a part of the General Motors bankruptcy announcement, the company unveiled that the Hummer brand would be stopped. The company declared it was willing to consider offers for all or part of the assets. So, American company Raser Technologies along with several others expressed interest in buying the company. However, on April 7, 2010, this attempt failed as well, and General Motors officially said it was shutting down the Hummer SUV brand and offering rich rebates in a bid to move the remaining 2,200 vehicles.
Models
Hummer H1
The Hummer H1 was the first vehicle in the Hummer range, based on the Humvee. Originally released in 1992, Hummer H1 was designed by American Motors’ AM General subsidiary for the U.S. Military. AMC had been purchased by Chrysler five years previously.
Hummer H2
The Hummer H2 was the second vehicle in the Hummer range. There were two variations: The H2 SUV and H2 SUT.
Hummer H3
However, the H3 and H3T truck were the smallest of the Hummer models and were based on the GMT355 platform shared with the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon compact pickup trucks.
Concept vehicles
Hummer HX
The Hummer HX was produced in 2008 as an open-air, two-door off-road concept car, smaller than other Hummer models.
Plug-in hybrid
Raser Technologies (formerly of Utah) was to use technology similar to that in the Chevrolet Volt. So, the company released the prototype to the 2009 Society of Automotive Engineers World Congress in Detroit. The E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) powertrain technology, was claimed to power the vehicle for up to 40 miles (64 km) on its battery, and then a small 4-cylinder internal combustion engine would start to generate more electricity.
