Bye Bye Hummer!

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

GM: End of Production Line for Hummer H1

Friday, May 12, 2006

 

Associated Press

 

DETROIT — Get ready to say goodbye to the Hummer H1, the hulking, gas-guzzling status symbol that has attracted celebrities and off-road enthusiasts but has drawn the ire of environmentalists.

 

General Motors Corp. said Friday that the 2006 model year will be the last for the H1, which has been the foundation for the automaker's Hummer brand. Based on the military's Humvee, the about 12,000 put on the road since 1992 defined the Hummer name.

 

"It's a reflection of where we're going with the Hummer brand," Hummer general manager Martin Walsh said of the decision. "The Hummer DNA still resides in the Humvee. ... It will always be the core from where we come."

 

GM expects the last H1s to be built next month.

 

Walsh said Hummer plans to focus on models with broader appeal instead of the niche-market H1. Since taking over the Hummer name in 2000, GM has introduced the still hefty H2 and a midsize H3 sport utility vehicle.

 

The H1 gets about 10 miles per gallon, but Walsh said rising gas prices didn't factor into GM's decision. He noted that H1 buyers typically have been less sensitive about gas prices than most other drivers.

 

Auto analyst Erich Merkle with the Grand Rapids consulting company IRN Inc. said the decision fits with steps GM has taken to bring the Hummer brand to more mainstream drivers with the H2 and H3.

 

"They're going to continue moving Hummer in that direction," Merkle said. "It's a great brand. There is a lot that can be done with that in terms of leveraging its ruggedness and toughness."

 

Merkle added that the kind of drivers who buy the H1 don't worry about things like gas prices.

 

"It's really one of those over-the-top vehicles," Merkle said. "It doesn't really have much of a place in everyday society. You can't put it in the parking ramps. Parking spaces can't accommodate it."

 

The H1 attracted well-heeled drivers looking for a military-style vehicle with an intimidating stance. For the 2006 model year, the H1 was offered as a high-performance H1 Alpha that costs about $130,000 to $140,000. The 2004 model year H1 sold at a base price of about $106,000.

 

The vehicle first was marketed to the public as the Hummer in 1992 by AM General, which also makes the military version. Under a 1999 deal, GM bought marketing rights to the Hummer name and called the vehicle the Hummer H1.

 

Hummers often have been associated with celebrities who owned them, such as actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was AM General's first civilian customer, buying a custom-made conversion of the military model as well as civilian production models.

 

Schwarzenegger once owned a fleet of Hummers but now has just three. The California governor's aides say he rarely drives them anymore.

 

The Hummer's critics include the Sierra Club, which has faulted the vehicle for its bulk and poor gas mileage. Dan Becker, director of the Sierra Club's global warming program, welcomed the news, which comes as Congress tackles fuel economy standards and some drivers face $3 gas prices.

 

"The timing is pretty amazing," Becker said.

 

Last year, GM sold 374 H1s, down 16 percent from 447 in 2004.

 

GM is working to turn around its North American automotive operations and this week announced its first quarterly profit since 2004. Last year it announced plans to cut 30,000 jobs and close 12 facilities by 2008. It also has stockpiled parts in case workers at supplier Delphi Corp. go on strike.

 

AM General, which builds the H1, H2 and Humvee in Mishawaka, Ind., said it doesn't plan to cut any jobs as a result of the decision. It said workers there were expected to be shifted to military production.

 

With the war in Iraq, the end of H1 production comes at a time when military demand for Humvee has increased, said AM General spokesman Craig MacNab. Publicity surrounding the Humvee in the Persian Gulf War — and the drop in military demand afterward — helped lead to the civilian model.

 

"The military production is way up, the civilian production is way down," MacNab said. "You can't make a business case for making any investment in the civilian vehicle. ... It's a good time to stop."

[Truckman031]

That is probably a smart financial move by GM, but I don't like it. The H1 made Hummer, so I think it should have stayed. But GM is really hurting for money and it makes sense on their part.

[OUMike]

That is probably a smart financial move by GM, but I don't like it.  The H1 made Hummer, so I think it should have stayed.  But GM is really hurting for money and it makes sense on their part.

 

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definatly a smart move. Not only did it save GM some money, nobody lost their jobs in the process. Thats the best way to do it.

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

That is probably a smart financial move by GM, but I don't like it.  The H1 made Hummer, so I think it should have stayed.  But GM is really hurting for money and it makes sense on their part.

 

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definatly a smart move. Not only did it save GM some money, nobody lost their jobs in the process. Thats the best way to do it.

 

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+1

 

When GM gets back on it's feet, they can design an even potent monster!

[HillHound]

Good riddance. I've always looked at them as underpowered pigs anyways and the only people that can afford them buy them for image anyways. GM doesn't need them to project the image that make "pickup guys" want to buy Chevy or GM trucks/SUVs.

 

I've always thought it was a shame that the guys who would use a Hummer H1 for what it was really designed for (rock crawlers and people who offroad regularly as a hobby or even as a pro sport) can't afford to buy them.

 

In any case, the new H3 Hummers I do like. GM can sell a ton of them if they keep them competetive with new molre powerful engines, gadgets and upgraded offroad gear. And the good thing is the average buyer can actually afford to own and operate one! Imagine that!!

[az'03Silverado]

I don't give a rat's arse what the Sierra club says. We all know they can all go screw themselves. But, I'm glad to hear that the General is going to up production of the military Humvee. Those guys need those things more than the civilians do.

[pm26]

If you like to use a Hummer strictly for off-roading, you can always but an ex-military one for about $ 25-30K. Most have low mileage and the bodies are all aluminum, so they do not rust. I would stay away from the ones that have been used in Iraq though.

[NMBR1SPT]

well you can buy 4 H3's (oversized jeep liberty) and cram them together and get an H1 prob solved

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

Everytime I see an H3, it just looks fake. It reminds me of those stupid Lamborghini kit cars that used a Fiero chassis. You can polish a turd, but it's still a turd.

[kc5deb]

I remember when the H2 (or the H2O, since it's nothing more than a watered down H1) came out. Car and Driver did a review of it, and came out and said it's a new body on a Denali frame/suspension. Then they turned right around and said "it's the best off-road vehicle off the showroom floor".

 

I had 2 points to that... First, if it's nothing more than a different body on a denali frame, would they need to say that a denali is also the best off-road vehicle off the showroom floor?

 

And I'm sorry, but... I am a GMC guy. I like some Fords. I like some Dodges. BUT, hands down, the best off-road vehicle you can buy off the showroom floor is a Jeep Wrangler. I like my 4x4 pickup, but, I will NEVER take it or a H2, H3, H4, or whatever they're coming out with in the hummer line anywhere NEAR the places I took my wrangler. It'll out-perform them hands down in mud, ice, rocks, trails any day.

 

The only thing that comes close to a wrangler is a true H1 Hummer or a land rover (which are just as expensive as an H1 if not more).

[Hecktorx]

Good riddance.  I've always looked at them as underpowered pigs anyways......

 

In any case, the new H3 Hummers I do like. 

 

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I think this is kinda funny. The H1 Alpha is actually faster then an H3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just teasing

[NMBR1SPT]

I remember when the H2 (or the H2O, since it's nothing more than a watered down H1) came out.  Car and Driver did a review of it, and came out and said it's a new body on a Denali frame/suspension.  Then they turned right around and said "it's the best off-road vehicle off the showroom floor".

 

I had 2 points to that...  First, if it's nothing more than a different body on a denali frame, would they need to say that a denali is also the best off-road vehicle off the showroom floor?

 

And I'm sorry, but...  I am a GMC guy.  I like some Fords.  I like some Dodges.  BUT, hands down, the best off-road vehicle you can buy off the showroom floor is a Jeep Wrangler.  I like my 4x4 pickup, but, I will NEVER take it or a H2, H3, H4, or whatever they're coming out with in the hummer line anywhere NEAR the places I took my wrangler.  It'll out-perform them hands down in mud, ice, rocks, trails any day. 

 

The only thing that comes close to a wrangler is a true H1 Hummer or a land rover (which are just as expensive as an H1 if not more).

 

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I have a grand cherokee and your right its a jeep thing, cause I have a denali xl, dodge ex cab 4x4 ram, and my jeep. oh yeah my CBR 1000rr wwweeeeeeee.