Autoblog

REPORT: Hummer getting plans in order for H4 and H5 models

Chris Shunk — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, GM, Hummer, Rumormill, Off-Road

Hummer HX concept - click above for high-res image gallery

As a brand, Hummer has been in limbo since General Motors announced it was selling the downtrodden marque to China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. Ltd. Speculation remains that the sale could be completed on or around December 1, pending approval from GM and the Chinese government. For now, everything is on hold, though Tengzhong and new Hummer CEO Jim Taylor are apparently still working hard to plan Hummer's future.

First on the "Honey Do" list is to arrest the free-fall of Hummer sales. Right now, sales are down 64% on the year to about 8,500 units, but Hummer is looking for 25,000 sales in 2010. That will be a tough nut to crack, but Automotive News reports that the company optimistically plans to get things done in part with some aggressive marketing. Ultimately, however, new product will be needed to get dealerships buzzing with customers again. In the meantime, Hummer's 154 U.S. dealers need more inventory in the showrooms to help move metal. AN says that dealers only have 1,300 units in stock, compared to the 7,400 vehicles at the same time in 2008.

The last piece of the Hummer reclamation project is adding those new models. When Tengzhong gets the keys to the Hummer kingdom, it will also receive engineering plans for the H4, a new smaller model that is reportedly based on the HX Concept from the 2008 Detroit Auto Show. Taylor reportedly told AN that Hummer's Jeep Wrangler fighter could arrive within three years. Also possible is an even smaller Hummer H5, which would help the SUV automaker to meet future CAFE requirements. Taylor even goes as far as to say that the smaller H4 and H5 could one day replace the brand's heavier and thirstier H2 and H3 mainstays. The next big challenge for Hummer once the sale becomes final is to find a manufacturing partner to build these vehicles. GM will reportedly cease building Hummer models as early as the end of 2010.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

[Source: Automotive News - subs req'd]

REPORT: Hummer getting plans in order for H4 and H5 models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, Hummer, Electric

2010 Hummer H3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Can a Hummer be green? The brand that most obviously represents American excess in the minds of environmentalists - though Hummer's vehicles aren't actually worse than any other large SUV - has seemingly been fighting off its negative stigma since shortly after the introduction of the larger-than-life H2. Part of the brand's hopeful transformation includes giving each model a flex-fuel variant, and the latest application of that principle is seen on the 2010 H3 and H3T.

Interestingly, the engine that gets the E85 capability is the largest and most powerful option: the 5.3-liter V8 as fitted to the top-level Alpha series - not the slightly more fuel efficient inline-five. In any case, anyone who ticks the V8 box on the options list will be blessed with 300 horsepower, 320 lb-ft of torque and the ability to pump ethanol into the tank if he or she should so desire.

Not green enough for you? Baby steps, people... Hummer CEO James Taylor (no, not that James Taylor) promises bigger eco steps in the near future, saying, "This is just the first step in Hummer's evolution to offer responsible, yet highly capable all-terrain vehicles. Future models will be lighter, more efficient and will continue to offer the best blend of off-road capability and on-road performance."

In related news, the 2010 Hummer H3 and H3T will be offered with three new premium exterior colors for 2010: Red Rock Metallic, Silver Stone Metallic, and Canyon Metallic. Huh, no green? Each of the three new hues can be seen in our photo gallery below, and you can view the official press release after the jump. Enjoy!

Gallery: 2010 Hummer H3 and H3T

[Source: Hummer]

Continue reading Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010

Not Done Yet: Hummer H3, H3T get biofuel capability, new colors for 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Hummer quartet is a pretty sweet swansong

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:41:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, SEMA Show, Truck, Hummer, Specialty, Off-Road

2010 Hummer Robby Gordon Off-Road - Click above for high-res image gallery

We almost skipped the Hummer section of the General Motors booth this year at SEMA, concentrating instead on the plethora of Chevrolet Camaro concepts all around them. When we went back for a second look at the day's new design for the Graphics Camaro, we saw the truck above and figured we should probably reconsider avoiding HUMMER after all. We took some pics and scrounged up the press release which you'll find after the jump.

There were four different Hummers on display. The one shown above is a Robby Gordon Off-Road race truck that is absolutely ridiculous -- in a good way. This H3 was built to campaign in the 2010 Dakar Rally and is a full-blown, tube-chassis race truck, just like the Trophy Trucks you'll see running in the Baja 1000.

Next up was the Rod Hall Racing H3 Alpha. This is a stock-class desert runner that ran the 2009 SCORE International Baja 1000., meaning that it features a stock frame, stock suspension design and production-based engine.

The other two trucks were Hummer concepts. First up was the H3 Moab. Said to be inspired by trails like Steel Bender, Moab Rim, and Poison Spyder, it's a 300-horsepower, V8-powered H3 Alpha with dual locking differentials, a Rancho four-inch front suspension lift, custom rear spring-over conversion, and 35-inch BF Goodrich Mud-Terrain KM2 tires mounted on custom 17-inch two-piece Monster Black Competition Beadlock Raceline Wheels by Allied.

Last but not least is the H3T Sportsman. It's been customized with a combination of powertrain modifications, suspension enhancements and an assortment of genuine factory accessories and aftermarket components. The standard Alpha 5.3-liter V8 has been boosted by a healthy 70 horsepower. Suspension upgrades include Light Racing JounceShocks and two-inch-diameter Rod Hall Racing piggyback reservoir-type performance shocks.

Altogether a pretty nifty quartet of Hummers that we'll probably never own. Check out the gallery and all the details after the jump.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: HUMMER concepts

Continue reading SEMA 2009: Hummer quartet is a pretty sweet swansong

SEMA 2009: Hummer quartet is a pretty sweet swansong originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shreveport, LA mayor lobbies D.C. to close the HUMMER deal, already

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:16:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, China, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, GM, Hummer, UAW/Unions

Cedric Glover, the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, went to Washington, D.C. to plead his case for the sale of Hummer to Tengzhong. The only thing is, we're not sure why he went. To be more precise, we do know that he wants to protect jobs at GM's Shreveport plant that builds Hummers. The plant has about 800 workers who build some of The General's pickup trucks and Hummer models, and the loss of The Big H would undoubtedly put people out of work.

What we're not sure of is what he thinks Washington has to do with it. He did ask that a couple of D.C. muckety-mucks "consider reaching out to the Chinese government to urge immediate approval of the Hummer deal," but Washington hasn't expressed any opposition to the deal and probably couldn't get the deal concluded on the Chinese side any sooner -- never mind the fact that Hummer is the least of Washington's concerns as far as China goes.

We've been told by one source at Hummer that although nothing is final until it's signed, they feel good about the deal, and Tengzhong must have known what it was doing when it made the bid in the first place. Yet beyond all that, as it stands today the Shreveport plant has three years to live at most: the facility wasn't part of the Hummer sale, and GM said it would shutter the place by 2012 at the latest. Mayor Glover wants to save jobs in his town, which is great, but unless GM starts going gangbusters (and soon) then Glover could be playing the Deck Chair and Sinking Ship game.

[Source: HummerGuy]

Shreveport, LA mayor lobbies D.C. to close the HUMMER deal, already originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AM General to build VPG MV-1 people-mover at Hummer H2 factory

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:41:00 EST

Filed under: Work, GM, Hummer, Specialty, Electric

Vehicle Production Group MV-1 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember the Standard Taxi from the Vehicle Production Group? It's now called the MV-1, and production is slated to begin next year at the AM General plant in Mishawaka, Indiana. That's the same assembly location where the Hummer H2 is built, which makes sense since the MV-1 is based on the same GM underpinnings as the behemoth SUV.

According to its makers, the MV-1 is the first purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicle in America, and it's able to accommodate up to six adults or two full-size wheelchairs. An ADA-approved ramp that stows under the vehicle's floor and a 36-inch wide side opening are designed to make entry and exit a simple affair.

With its body-on-frame construction made with fully boxed rails, the MV-1 should prove to be a durable people mover and its well-known GM drivetrain components should also be easily serviceable. Further, VPG has teamed up with Clean Energy to develop a dedicated compressed natural gas powertrain option that will provide a 250-mile range with significantly reduced emissions.

Styling wise, the MV-1 may not be the prettiest machine on the road, but for those needing to transport wheelchair-bound passengers, this design may just be a thing of beauty. See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: Vehicle Production Group MV-1

[Source: VPG Autos, Detroit Free Press]

AM General to build VPG MV-1 people-mover at Hummer H2 factory originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recork the Champagne? China says Hummer paperwork not submitted yet

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, China, Government/Legal, GM, Hummer

2008 Hummer HX concept - Click above for high-res gallery

Last week, it was reported that General Motors had signed a definitive agreement to sell Hummer to Chinese machinery manufacturer Tengzhong. The Chinese company and its partner in the deal, Lumena Resources Corp., would pay $150 million and receive Hummer and its intellectual property, ownership of U.S. franchise agreements, and manufacturing, business, and component assistance during a four- or five-year transition period.

The questions being raised now concern what is happening on the other side of the Pacific. The Chinese Commerce Ministry reportedly hasn't received Tengzhong's application to officially bring Hummer home, which has led observers to wonder if there will be a holdup or reversal of the deal. According to a Hummer representative, however, Tengzhong had to finalize the deal with GM before it could present it for approval to the Chinese authorities:

The closing of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals and/or review by agencies in China and the U.S. Tengzhong has started communicating with the relevant regulatory bodies and will continue to support the application process in accordance with the requirements. Formal engagement was only able to begin with the signing of the definitive agreement.

If all goes well, Tengzhong hopes to have the deal closed by early 2010.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX in the design studio

[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd.]

Recork the Champagne? China says Hummer paperwork not submitted yet originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 10 Hummer Moments in History

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hummer

Ah, Hummer. We hardly knew ye. Well, we actually knew ye real well, but we just stopped liking you. Most of us, anyhow. Still, we have some pretty fond memories. Like when you and General Stormin' Norman Schwarzkopf gave us great hope during the first Gulf War. And we loved when Arnold Schwarzenegger was the key to your brand, before he went all soft and started caring about the environment. Oh, remember when all those maniacs claimed you were better for planet earth than Toyota's Prius? Ha ha ha - that still cracks us up. And while we're old enough to remember your heroics when you almost single-handedly kicked Saddam's butt out of Kuwait, our younger friends totally dug riding in stretched versions of you to prom (we had to settle for a stinky old Caddy limo). And now General Motors is selling you - for cheap, too. Is that anyway to treat an icon? Check out our top 10 favorite memories of you.

Top 10 Hummer Moments in History originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BREAKING: GM officially sells Hummer to China's Sichuan Tengzhong

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:13:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, GM, Hummer, Off-Road

General Motors has reached an agreement to offload Hummer onto China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, with Tengzhong taking an 80 percent stake and a private investor consuming the rest.

Details on the deal (available in the press release after the jump) include Hummer contacting vehicle manufacturing from GM, with the General's Shrevport and Mishawaka plants continuing to produce vehicles through June of 2011, with a possible extension until 2012. A recent report says the sale will net GM around $150 million, although the transaction still has to be approved by both U.S. and Chinese regulatory agencies, which could come later this year or in early 2010.

Tengzhong, which only produces commercial trucks and industrial equipment, has never entered into consumer vehicles before, but according to Yang Yi, chief executive officer of Tengzhong. "We are excited about some of the initiatives already underway at HUMMER that we believe our investment will be able to accelerate, particularly related to the creation of the next generation of more fuel-efficient vehicles to meet not only future regulations but also customer expectations."

[Source: GM | Photo by Scott Olson/Getty]

Continue reading BREAKING: GM officially sells Hummer to China's Sichuan Tengzhong

BREAKING: GM officially sells Hummer to China's Sichuan Tengzhong originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM close to offloading Hummer for as little as $150 million

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Hummer, Earnings/Financials

Hummer H3T - click above for high-res image gallery

Not so many years ago, Hummer appeared to be one of General Motors' most potentially lucrative brands. Now, the fallen brand looks poised to fall into the hands of the Chinese very soon. Bloomberg is reporting that a deal to sell Hummer could be finalized in the coming days as Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. hammers out a purchase price. During its bankruptcy proceedings, GM estimated the Hummer brand to be worth $500 million, but last week's collapse of the Saturn deal with Roger Penske appears to have made the Detroit automaker ready to accept whatever it can get. The final tab paid by Sichuan Tengzhong could be as low as $150 million.

The Chinese government has thus far been reluctant to approve Sichuan Tengzhong's move for Hummer, in part because of the brand's image as a gas guzzler. The hope is that once a purchase agreement is complete, the regulators will allow it to move forward. For its part, GM likely just wants the deal done and some extra cash in its coffers so it can move on with its streamlining efforts plans.

Gallery: Review: 2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha

[Source: Bloomberg]

REPORT: GM close to offloading Hummer for as little as $150 million originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Hummer owners believe they've made "a highly moral consumption choice"

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:29:00 EST

There probably isn't any one passenger vehicle on earth that earns more ire from environmentalists than the Hummer H2. While the reality of the matter is that most Hummers aren't really much worse when it comes to fuel mileage and overall emissions than any other giant SUV (most civilian Hummers are, in fact, based largely on truck platforms from General Motors) the brand has seemingly been made into the poster child of American excess.

Interestingly, however, according to a small study of 20 Hummer owners published in the Journal of Consumer Research, that stigma may actually be a selling point for those who purchase Hummers. According to the authors of the study:

As we studied American Hummer owners and their ideological beliefs, we found that they consider Hummer driving a highly moral consumption choice. For Hummer owners it is possible to claim the moral high ground... The moralistic critique of their consumption choices readily inspired Hummer owners to adopt the role of the moral protagonist who defends American national ideals.

It's hard to argue that this report offers a conclusive look into the minds of Hummer owners and Hummer haters alike - especially when the sample size is so small - and we doubt it's going to put an end to the debate over the seemingly conflicting rights of Americans to purchase the vehicle of their choice, consume or conserve whatever resources they deem necessary and breathe clean air. That said, it's an interesting bit of research, no?

[Source: Journal of Consumer Research - sub. req'd; via Wired]

STUDY: Hummer owners believe they've made "a highly moral consumption choice" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Chinese-owned Hummer to keep headquarters in southeast Michigan

Chris Paukert — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Hummer

2008 Hummer HX concept - click above image for hi-res gallery

With General Motors selling its Hummer operations to China's Tengzhong, there had been some concern that the embattled state of Michigan would lose even more jobs if the SUV brand's home base would move either overseas or out of state. But according to Reuters, that doesn't look like it's going to happen. According to company officials, Hummer LLC has secured some $20.6 million worth of state tax credits over ten years, and in turn, it expects to invest $9.4 million over five years into its new headquarters.

Reuters indicates that Hummer operations will be relocated to a location in southeast Michigan, with plans to start at 100 employees and eventually ramp upwards to 300 in a few years. A site for the headquarters has not been announced yet, but it will likely come after the deal between GM and Tengzhong is finalized.

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Chinese-owned Hummer to keep headquarters in southeast Michigan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burned-out Hummer limo spotted during wildfires in California

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:22:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Hummer, Specialty

Cause or effect? While driving home from Supercar Sunday at VCR, we spotted this burned out Hummer H2 limo on the side of the road near the heart of the wildfires in Southern California.

Was this behemoth the cause of, or alternatively, a victim of the fires? Perhaps neither. It may have just been a coincidence that the lengthy SUV lay smoldering on the shoulder near thousands of acres of brush near Mulholland Drive. Perhaps. But one thing's for sure - the party's over for this limo. Here's hoping that anyone that happened to be inside made it out safely.

Burned-out Hummer limo spotted during wildfires in California originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Potential deal points leaked concerning Tengzhong's purchase of Hummer

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, China, Crossover, GM, Hummer

2008 Hummer HX Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

As the Opel transaction takes on Biblical intrigue, the Hummer exchange goes on in another dark corner, laboriously, like the gestation of an elephant. The latest report from a Chinese news website states that General Motors and Tengzhong "might sign an agreement" this week, but that strikes us as exceedingly optimistic seeing that there's been no word on the government approving the deal yet.

Slightly more believable are the supposed deal points that would guide Tengzhong's initial ownership of Hummer: Tengzhong will own all of Hummer's intellectual property rights and sales network, but would not build Hummers in China and would operate the company as an off-shore entity based out of Detroit or Nashville. General Motors would continue to build Hummers until 2012 and provide "technical services," and Tengzhong would continue to fund research and development, while the "off-shore" Hummer team (read: probably the folks doing the job now) would be responsible for launching the new H3 and H4. As for that H4, though, the article lists them as "CUV models." If the H4 is a CUV, we hope they manage to make it look like the 2008 Hummer HX concept shown above.

Tengzhong reps are headed to Detroit to continue discussions. The General's response, according to the CEO of Hummer is that "Negotiations continue to progress and the transaction will be announced upon the signing of the definitive agreement as soon as appropriate." Hat tip to Emilio!

Gallery: Detroit 2008: HUMMER HX Concept

[Source: Gasgoo]

Potential deal points leaked concerning Tengzhong's purchase of Hummer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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St. Louis-area dealer thinks Hummers and firearms go together like Smith & Wesson

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Etc., Hummer

Lynch Hummer dealership in Chesterfield, Missouri - Click above for image gallery

Peanut butter and jelly. Burgers and fries. Hummers and, um, handguns? That's right, where else but in the good ol' U. S. of A. could such necessary staples of everyday life be bundled together under one roof?

Like many other Hummer dealers, Jim Lynch, the man behind Lynch Hummer of Chesterfield, Missouri (a suburb of St. Louis), found himself with lots of vacant floorspace after fuel prices, the economic downturn and the court of public opinion conspired to restrict vehicle sales at his fine establishment. What to do? Seems rather obvious to us - add firearm and ammunition sales, what else? According to Lynch, "It is a natural fit. Our customers enjoy outdoor sports and the firearms have been a big hit with our Hummer owners."

It's all about customer service, says Lynch, "We take our mission of providing a pleasant shopping environment for our customers very seriously... We sold our first Hummer online in 1995 and have been a leader in online sales of off-road parts and accessories through our Adventure Accessories web site for many years. We plan to do the same with firearms and accessories on our website."

Interested in adding both a Hummer and a new Glock (or Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Kimber, Colt, Benelli, Beretta, Browning, FNH, H&K, Springfield Armory, Ruger, Walther, Stoeger, Franchi, Uberti, CMMG, DPMS, Bushmaster or Barrett) to your arsenal? Click here to visit GunsAndHummers.com and hit the jump for the official press release. In the meantime, we'll be waiting for the first Mini dealer paired with a Starbucks franchise.

Gallery: Lynch Hummer dealership in Chesterfield, Missouri

[Source: GunsAndHummers.com]

Continue reading St. Louis-area dealer thinks Hummers and firearms go together like Smith & Wesson

St. Louis-area dealer thinks Hummers and firearms go together like Smith & Wesson originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Tengzhong deal for Hummer expected to close in Q3

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:15:00 EST

Filed under: China, Hummer, Off-Road

Slowly clearing one obstacle after another, Tengzhong is closer to sealing the deal to buy Hummer from General Motors. Chinese reports have come almost completely around, from the nearly certain "No" of a few months ago to "the Chinese government has little to lose giving the green light."

Chinese government officials didn't comment on the story, but the Chinese commerce ministry, one of the two bodies overseeing approval of the purchase, is now saying that it's only natural for Tengzhong to want Hummer. And with Tengzhong issuing pronouncements about mantaining Hummer's dealer network, it looks like the company is confident it will achieve its end. Final price is expected to be less than half of what GM wanted, coming in at around $200 million.

Meanwhile, the vehicles like nothing else keep on trucking, taking part in this weekend's TSCO Vegas to Reno race. Chad Hall and Emily Miller are each piloting H3s -- hopefully through to Sunday's finish. If you're a desert racer, you can keep up with action at Best in the Desert or Sopwith Racing.

[Source: Reuters]

REPORT: Tengzhong deal for Hummer expected to close in Q3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HUMMER hanging on: Tengzhong in talks with Chinese government to clear sale

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:08:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, China, Hummer

Chinese National Radio recently reported that Tengzhong wouldn't be allowed to purchase Hummer due to environmental concerns. The company released a statement after that news broke saying that while there was no "definitive agreement," the CNR report wasn't based on facts from the government regulatory body in question, and Tengzhong is still working on the deal.

Last week, in a report titled "Tengzhong may get green light from the regulators for its acquisition of Hummer," CNR's take on where things appears to back up Tengzhong's view that the game is not yet played. The company's discussions with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the Ministry of Commerce -- it needs approval from both parties -- have begun, and three options for concluding a deal were proposed.

If Tengzhong can convince the authorities of its expertise and business blan, and gets approval from both parties, it wants to set Hummer up in Sichuan province. If there is resistance to setting Hummer up directly, Tengzhong could try to base the company in one of China's ten bonded areas -- harbor points where the vehicles aren't officially "in" the country until taxes and fees are paid -- but this could impact the company's ability to sell Hummers in China. Or, the company could simply become a foreign investor in Hummer.

It isn't clear whether those options are Tengzhong's take on the purchase, or if that was just more speculation from CNR. Hummer had no comment on the matter.

[Source: Hummer]

HUMMER hanging on: Tengzhong in talks with Chinese government to clear sale originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Hummer H1 gets beaten with aerodynamic ugly stick

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SUV, Auctions, Hummer

Custom Hummer H1 on eBay Motors - Click above for image gallery

It takes a special talent to infantilize the brute strength of a Hummer H1, but someone's gone and done it with an oddly swoopy redesign. One of only two made (yes, there is another), this unique Hummer features a custom hood and front bumper, as well as a multi-section removable roof should the driver and occupants actually wish to be seen tooling around the neighborhood in this beast.

Inside, it's been all tricked out with a trifecta of television screens, ostrich leather interior, iPod-compatible entertainment system, sat-nav, back-up cameras...the works. Even the turbodiesel V8 has been tweaked and mounted with a polished aluminum snorkel, complimented by a chrome Mack truck bulldog hood ornament. Oh, and it has a $2,000 train horn, just in case someone can't see this behemoth coming from a mile away. All this can be yours for the low price of $89,900 or best offer.

Gallery: Hummer H1 custom on eBay

[Source: eBay Motors via Carscoop]

eBay Find of the Day: Hummer H1 gets beaten with aerodynamic ugly stick originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:55:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUV, Truck, Hummer, Jeep, Reviews, Off-Road

Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited vs. Hummer H3T - Click above for high-res image gallery

Last year, we compared the dirtside manners of the Hummer H2 and Toyota Land Cruiser. Both trucks did everything we asked of them, but at the end of the excursion we were left with another question begging to be answered: could the Hummer H3T stand up to the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon? These cruiserweights live on a fatter part of the buying curve, and any time a Jeep is summoned to the ring, the other vehicle is inevitably the challenger. Even though the H3T is still relatively new to the world, it came time to find out if it was ready to stand up and fight for its place. Follow the jump to see how it held up.

Gallery: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T

Continue reading Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T

Autoblog Comparo: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon vs. Hummer H3T originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hummer buyer to start talks with Chinese gov't to win sale?

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Truck, China, Government/Legal, Hummer, Earnings/Financials

China's Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, the company that recently surfaced as the top bidder for Hummer, is about to start talks with Chinese regulators to secure the deal. While General Motors has a tentative agreement with Tengzhong, the two companies have yet to receive the state's blessing, which is necessary for the sale to go through.

Tengzhong, GM and Hummer have been working on a proposal to present to the National Development and Reform Commission, despite speculation that the deal will be blocked by those Chinese officials. Tengzhong reportedly remains optimistic, saying they haven't heard anything from the authorities and don't expect to until their proposal is actually submitted.

Speculation that the deal was in jeopardy began when a China National Radio station reported that government regulators would block the deal based on environmental concerns about Hummer vehicles and the fact that Tengzhong doesn't have much experience as an automaker. Tengzhong is better known as a manufacturer of special-use vehicles, structural components for highways and bridges, construction machinery and energy equipment, so some have suggested this is little more than a publicity stunt for the company, but it certainly sounds like they are serious about the deal now.

[Sources: Reuters, Wall Street Journal]

Hummer buyer to start talks with Chinese gov't to win sale? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: China to block HUMMER sale to Tengzhong

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, China, Government/Legal, Hummer, Earnings/Financials

2008 Hummer H2 - Click above for high-res gallery

General Motors' pending deal to offload its unwanted HUMMER brand may have hit a major snag. Although no official word has come from the Ministry of Commerce or the National Development and Reform Commission, state-run radio organizations are reporting that the Chinese government will indeed block the sale of HUMMER from GM to Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. It's impossible to know exactly how this whole mess will play out, but these reports clearly jive with the general sentiments we've been hearing since the deal was first announced.

According to Chinese radio reports (via the BBC), there are two main objections to the HUMMER deal. First, the brand's environmental credentials don't match up with the direction the Chinese government wants its automakers to head. Second, there are questions as to whether Tengzhong has the expertise to properly manage a large automaker as it's business dealings so far have all been in the construction equipment segment.

Not so fast, says Tengzhong. In a newly-released statement regarding these latest reports, the company had this to say:

Some people may have views and speculation, but the Chinese government has a process that we respect... The view expressed on China National Radio's website did not quote or source anyone at NDRC. We do not yet have a definitive agreement, but are developing our proposals with GM and Hummer and we will continue to engage with the appropriate authorities in an appropriate manner.

At this point, it seems equally as possible that a decision could either come down in short order or come only after a long series of protracted negotiations. Stay tuned. Thanks for the tip, Dave S!

Gallery: 2008 HUMMER H2

[Source: BBC]

REPORT: China to block HUMMER sale to Tengzhong originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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