Brand histories
The History of the Hummer Brand
Autopapyrus
Hummer is a well-known automotive brand owned by General Motors. During World War II, the so-called "soldier vehicle" appeared and developed rapidly: a powerful off-roader able to cross rough terrain, or go where there are no roads at all, in combat zones. After the war ended, many European manufacturers picked up the idea of the all-terrain vehicle and introduced this type of transport into the armies of various countries.
In the 1970s, the Pentagon set out a number of mandatory requirements for the next generation of military off-road vehicles. These vehicles were expected to become the main means of ground transport for American soldiers. They had to handle rough terrain with ease, be compact, be easy to drive and easy to repair, be able to tow trailers, and so on.
A new vehicle brand grew out of the U.S. military utility vehicle, the HMMWV M998, or "Humvee" for short. Development of the off-roader began in 1979 and was carried out by the American company AM General. Fifteen base models were designed, eight of which were fitted with various types of weaponry.
In 1991, the Humvee, serving with American forces, saw action in the Persian Gulf against Iraq, which made the vehicle famous. Today the Humvee is part of the vehicle fleet of many countries, and its variants allow this military transport to be used for a wide range of purposes.
In the spring of 1992, the M1097 model, adopted by the U.S. Army, was updated. The new vehicle had reinforced suspension, an upgraded drivetrain, and protective armor. It could carry loads of up to 1.9 tonnes (about 4,200 lb).
Notably, that same year production of a civilian version of the Humvee began, under the name Hummer H1. The civilian model was developed by the famous General Motors company, and it did not differ radically from the military vehicle.
Still, in 1998 General Motors hit a turning point, as amid a financial crisis Hummer sales almost stopped. This led the company to look for buyers for the brand around the world, from Russia to India. As a result, in June 2009 the Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co signed a preliminary agreement to buy the brand. This came just one day after GM publicly announced its bankruptcy.
However, the deal with the Chinese buyer never went through, and in February 2010 the wind-down of the Hummer division began. The last Hummer off-roader was built at the American plant on May 26, 2010.
The Hummer became an outstanding prototype for all the army jeeps of our time. This model became the benchmark for manufacturers around the world. And although the history of the Hummer has come to an end, this vehicle will forever remain a "soldier on four wheels," a proud symbol of America's armed forces.
In the 1970s, the Pentagon set out a number of mandatory requirements for the next generation of military off-road vehicles. These vehicles were expected to become the main means of ground transport for American soldiers. They had to handle rough terrain with ease, be compact, be easy to drive and easy to repair, be able to tow trailers, and so on.
A new vehicle brand grew out of the U.S. military utility vehicle, the HMMWV M998, or "Humvee" for short. Development of the off-roader began in 1979 and was carried out by the American company AM General. Fifteen base models were designed, eight of which were fitted with various types of weaponry.
In 1991, the Humvee, serving with American forces, saw action in the Persian Gulf against Iraq, which made the vehicle famous. Today the Humvee is part of the vehicle fleet of many countries, and its variants allow this military transport to be used for a wide range of purposes.
In the spring of 1992, the M1097 model, adopted by the U.S. Army, was updated. The new vehicle had reinforced suspension, an upgraded drivetrain, and protective armor. It could carry loads of up to 1.9 tonnes (about 4,200 lb).
Notably, that same year production of a civilian version of the Humvee began, under the name Hummer H1. The civilian model was developed by the famous General Motors company, and it did not differ radically from the military vehicle.
Still, in 1998 General Motors hit a turning point, as amid a financial crisis Hummer sales almost stopped. This led the company to look for buyers for the brand around the world, from Russia to India. As a result, in June 2009 the Chinese company Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co signed a preliminary agreement to buy the brand. This came just one day after GM publicly announced its bankruptcy.
However, the deal with the Chinese buyer never went through, and in February 2010 the wind-down of the Hummer division began. The last Hummer off-roader was built at the American plant on May 26, 2010.
Hummer Forever!
The Hummer became an outstanding prototype for all the army jeeps of our time. This model became the benchmark for manufacturers around the world. And although the history of the Hummer has come to an end, this vehicle will forever remain a "soldier on four wheels," a proud symbol of America's armed forces.
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