Hummer is another one of General Motor’s zombie brands that will likely soon cease to exist (if no last minute buyer steps up). The builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s was thought to have been saved when Chinese construction company Sichuan Tengzhong, but the Chinese government squashed the deal. GM was preparing to wind down the brand, even as it entertained two other potential buyers.
But Hummer still has a little bit of life left in it, apparently. A large fleet order was placed for 849 Hummer H3 and H3T pickups. That is enough to put the Shreveport, Louisiana plant back to work for an extra month.
Could this be indicative of some life still remaining in the polarizing brand? Anything is possible; 849 vehicles isn’t exactly a light order, though towards what end they might be used, I haven’t a clue. GM is remaining mum on the name of the fleet buyer. But consider that GM sold just over 9,000 Hummers during the entirety of 2009, down from over 27,000 in 2008.
The Shreveport plant once employed over 3,000 people but now employs about 950. The plant had been marked for closure during the bankruptcy of GM no later than 2012, but with falling light truck sales and the failure to pawn off GM, the plant isn’t likely to last much longer. Neither is Hummer. Even with this huge order, it will keep the plant open an extra few weeks. But anything that keeps Americans employed, I am all for.
It would have been interesting to see GM try to save Hummer. America still lacks a tough, green truck, though GM already has its hands full. Could the Hummer name ever be saved? Or is it a brand too far damaged to ever be salvaged, just like that sock puppet from Pets.com?
Source: The Truth About Cars via The Shreveport Times | Image: GM
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About Christopher DeMorro
I object to your classification of Hummer as “the builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s”. Hummer makes the H2, H3 and the H3T and only the H2 is considered a gas-guzzler. What Hummer excels at is making very capable off-road vehicles! For people who live in rural areas that have to deal with extremely rough roads or seasonal conditions such as mud and snow the Hummer is one of only a few vehicles that can handle those conditions.
When compared to vehicles with comparable capabilities and performance the gas consumption of the Hummer is no worse than their direct competitors. For example if you compare an H3 to a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited gas consumption is the same. Is Jeep considered a builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s?
It is not a fair comparison to compare an H3 to a Prius. If you can fit what you need to haul into a Prius and it can handle the roads you need to drive then by all means get the Prius. However, if your going to get stuck every day or you will need to make multiple trips to haul the family to church then you need a more capable or bigger vehicle. Hummer is getting killed because many consumers jumped on the SUV bandwagon even though they didn’t need an SUV, but some people have a valid need for an SUV.
Can we just make reasonable comparisons and stop singling out one brand as the builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s?
I object to your classification of Hummer as “the builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s”. Hummer makes the H2, H3 and the H3T and only the H2 is considered a gas-guzzler. What Hummer excels at is making very capable off-road vehicles! For people who live in rural areas that have to deal with extremely rough roads or seasonal conditions such as mud and snow the Hummer is one of only a few vehicles that can handle those conditions.
When compared to vehicles with comparable capabilities and performance the gas consumption of the Hummer is no worse than their direct competitors. For example if you compare an H3 to a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited gas consumption is the same. Is Jeep considered a builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s?
It is not a fair comparison to compare an H3 to a Prius. If you can fit what you need to haul into a Prius and it can handle the roads you need to drive then by all means get the Prius. However, if your going to get stuck every day or you will need to make multiple trips to haul the family to church then you need a more capable or bigger vehicle. Hummer is getting killed because many consumers jumped on the SUV bandwagon even though they didn’t need an SUV, but some people have a valid need for an SUV.
Can we just make reasonable comparisons and stop singling out one brand as the builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s?
For some people, a small compact car is all they need. For some other people, who might be very active, they need something more, like a SUV. I’m not sure a small car will be able to tow my ski boat to the lake with gear, and kids/friends. Or be able to handle 6-12 inches of fresh snow when heading to the ski hill with all my gear. (yes, heading to the ski hill in fresh snow is great!)
I always find it funny, that I get stuck driving my buddies on these trips, because they own cars that can’t carry people and gear. Why doesn’t my buddy drive his Prius to the ski hill with all 4 of us and gear?? It would be nice if he could tow my boat to the lake too.
Problem, is that all these soccer moms bought huge SUVs to drop their kids off. That is a waste but a choice each person should be able to make. For people like me that actually utilize a SUV besides driving to the mall, it’s a shame that a real nice SUV like a Hummer has to go away. There really is nothing else like it. It’s different, luxury, and has great performance. All things that matter to some people. Others are not interested in that, that’s ok, but don’t hate on other people’s interests.
For some people, a small compact car is all they need. For some other people, who might be very active, they need something more, like a SUV. I’m not sure a small car will be able to tow my ski boat to the lake with gear, and kids/friends. Or be able to handle 6-12 inches of fresh snow when heading to the ski hill with all my gear. (yes, heading to the ski hill in fresh snow is great!)
I always find it funny, that I get stuck driving my buddies on these trips, because they own cars that can’t carry people and gear. Why doesn’t my buddy drive his Prius to the ski hill with all 4 of us and gear?? It would be nice if he could tow my boat to the lake too.
Problem, is that all these soccer moms bought huge SUVs to drop their kids off. That is a waste but a choice each person should be able to make. For people like me that actually utilize a SUV besides driving to the mall, it’s a shame that a real nice SUV like a Hummer has to go away. There really is nothing else like it. It’s different, luxury, and has great performance. All things that matter to some people. Others are not interested in that, that’s ok, but don’t hate on other people’s interests.
“Is Jeep considered a builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s?”
Yes.
“Is Jeep considered a builder of gas-guzzling SUV’s?”
Yes.
In the interest of fairness, I should point out that I drive a Jeep Wrangler because, well, I like it and it is practical for New England. And I don’t hate Hummer, or any automaker. But it is a polarizing vehicle, and I hate to see it go because it takes with it a number of jobs too.
In the interest of fairness, I should point out that I drive a Jeep Wrangler because, well, I like it and it is practical for New England. And I don’t hate Hummer, or any automaker. But it is a polarizing vehicle, and I hate to see it go because it takes with it a number of jobs too.