GM to End Production of Hummer H1

[Itsme]

GM to End Production of Hummer H1
DAVID RUNK, Associated Press Writer

DETROIT - The 2006 model year will be the last for 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. announced plans Friday for the H1, which is 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 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. California's governor was AM General's first civilian customer, buying a custom-made conversion of the military model as well as civilian production models.

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

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

[InfiniteNothing]

Good riddance.

[ray]

I would prefer they stopped production of the H2 and H3.

[Airencracken]

I don't mind the Humvee, it was made for a purpose. However this slew of large heavy inefficient vehicles is stupid and unnecessary.

[LegendKiller]

You know, the H1 is still one of the only guzzlers I would consider purchasing, if only I was going to end up offroad every weekend, or at least use military camo and big tires with the machine gun mount (no gun) to intimidate everybody on the road.

The thing just looks bad@ss. If I were to buy one, it'd be a 3rd car, used only sparingly. Alas, having 130k to spend on a 3rd car is a ways off...

[johnnymk]

12,000 vehicles sold in 16 years...I can't get too excited about the environmental impact of such a few number of large SUV"s.

If anyone should get all riled up about wasting fuel, look at boats.

[bachviet]

The military version uses diesel not gasoline and it has ton of low range torque. However hp sucks and it could barely get to 60 mph. It's way too big for the road anyway.

[DankNstickY]

noooo... the h1 is the ONLY good looking/rugged hummer out there. RIP H1

[Merlin]

Well there goes the real Hummer and now all we're left with are the fakes.

[Houdini]

Yup. That sucks. As big and impractical as they are, and as often as they are driven unnecessarily by soccer moms/dads who don't know how to use side mirrors or to corner, they were definitely great.

The H2 and H3 models are jokes. The H2 is a Suburban with Hummer looks. The H3 makes me laugh every time I see one on the road. I think a Jeep Liberty could climb over bigger rocks, etc.

Now H1 prices will go up, as supply goes down. All the neat tricks like lowering tire pressure, etc., will be missed. And I've heard they make awesome Hurricane Evacuation Vehicles. If someone is on the road in front of you in a hugeass interstate traffic jam, just climb a levee or take the median. Doesn't matter what angle. Doesn't really matter if the police are after you in that scenario, as your average cruiser probably can't clear the brush and the mud.

It's not a great daily driver, I've heard, but secretly I've always wanted one. Sorta like I've always wanted, and will own someday, a Lambo Countach Quattrovavole. Just because the pic on my wall as a kid was influential. And the doors.

RIP H1. Come back soon, like the GM F-body will next year...

[gwilks98]

12,000 vehicles sold in 16 years...I can't get too excited about the environmental impact of such a few number of large SUV"s.

If anyone should get all riled up about wasting fuel, look at boats.

No, but it's a step in the right direction.

What kind of boats are you talking about? Commercial or recreational? I find it hard to believe in either case that they amount to the amount of wasted fuel gobbled up by people who bought large SUVs so they could sit in traffic for 90 minutes a day.

[Apex]

I would prefer they stopped production of the H2 and H3.

Ditto, though the H2 and H3 are cash cows in comparison, so it won't happen.

[johnnymk]

No, but it's a step in the right direction.

What kind of boats are you talking about? Commercial or recreational? I find it hard to believe in either case that they amount to the amount of wasted fuel gobbled up by people who bought large SUVs so they could sit in traffic for 90 minutes a day.

Recreational. I bet if you add up the fuel for a couple of weeks used by boats that it would far surpass the usage of these few Hummers.

[Itsme]

One of the hallmarks of our country is that people can basically do what they want for recreation. I'm sure we could list all kinds of things people are doing that take more energy than ideal.

Not really related, was a story in the paper this past week about how the power used in each household is way up over the past couple of years due to all the electronic items being used that we don't even realize are drawing some power all the time....even when the power switch is off.

[clutchy]

i'm with most others, that was the only useful one the whole line... the others a big frickin joke... stupid tax abuses made them popular for businesses.

[kimchicowboy]

i am in agreement with the others. the H1 was so manly looking compared to the clown cars they have now. the H2 and H3 should not have a hummer badge stamped on them.

[blueindian]

you guys are crazy. the h2 is tottally badass, espically when you get it in yellow. you can fit, like, sooooooo many groceries in the back. and it'll haul bags of potting soil like nobody's business. and the h3 is totally cute. if i had daughters, i get them each one. maybe in pink.

[Airencracken]

[Houdini]

Hah!

I've always thought the H3 was a well, stupid and unnecessary idea. The H2 is a H1-looking Suburban. I say kill those models and keep the H1. It's not like every Tom, Dick, and Harry had one, as they were pretty damn $$. And I'd love one for the next big flood/hurricane, etc. They do have good uses.

[ski]

The armed forces are switching to a different personnel carrying vehicle from what I read. HUMMER to crank out more and more H2's and H3's?

[Houdini]

The armed forces are switching to a different personnel carrying vehicle from what I read. HUMMER to crank out more and more H2's and H3's?

H2s and H3s are worthless to the military. I'm not so sure about the HumVee's demise, though. It has proven to be very battle-ready.

I just wish they would stop making H2s and H3s and keep making real Hummers. Damn the cost. It keeps everyone from owning one and guzzling gas. A Ferrari or similarly priced Porsche 911 variant turbo drinks just as much, but you don't see environmentalists going apecrap over them. Perhaps it's because many rich environmentalists who I see at the local "organic" food markets drive such cars as hot Porsches, 7-series BMWs, etc.? It's cool for Al Gore to rant about global warming, but would he give up his private jet access? Doubtful. Only using him as an example...not to make this political.

I just miss the Hummer. An expensive vehicle, yes. A gas guzzler, yes. But one that has VERY useful capabilities, for offroad, high water, pulling stuff, etc., that beats everything out there. I'd buy one in a second if I had the dough. It would get me through any debris left by any hurricane in any Gulf Coastal city. Ground clearance, snorkel, variable tire pressure, and sheer torque...yeah! But it wouldn't be a daily driver, and it shouldn't be a soccer-mom vehicle. In the meantime, I'll just supercharge my Bavarian civic in a year or two. 4-door M3!!!!

[Airencracken]

H2s and H3s are worthless to the military. I'm not so sure about the HumVee's demise, though. It has proven to be very battle-ready.

I just wish they would stop making H2s and H3s and keep making real Hummers. Damn the cost. It keeps everyone from owning one and guzzling gas. A Ferrari or similarly priced Porsche 911 variant turbo drinks just as much, but you don't see environmentalists going apecrap over them. Perhaps it's because many rich environmentalists who I see at the local "organic" food markets drive such cars as hot Porsches, 7-series BMWs, etc.? It's cool for Al Gore to rant about global warming, but would he give up his private jet access? Doubtful. Only using him as an example...not to make this political.

I just miss the Hummer. An expensive vehicle, yes. A gas guzzler, yes. But one that has VERY useful capabilities, for offroad, high water, pulling stuff, etc., that beats everything out there. I'd buy one in a second if I had the dough. It would get me through any debris left by any hurricane in any Gulf Coastal city. Ground clearance, snorkel, variable tire pressure, and sheer torque...yeah! But it wouldn't be a daily driver, and it shouldn't be a soccer-mom vehicle. In the meantime, I'll just supercharge my Bavarian civic in a year or two. 4-door M3!!!!

I pretty much feel the same way. The H3 and H2 are much worse for the enivorment given their prolific nature. I miss the H1 too.

[BigJon]

I love the H1, don't mind the H2, but hate the H3

[Houdini]

I pretty much feel the same way. The H3 and H2 are much worse for the enivorment given their prolific nature. I miss the H1 too.

Yep. H2 and H3 are just Suburbans and Jeeps, but they are heavier and uglier. No real purpose. And they're relatively cheap, so they're plentiful, guzzling more gas overall and polluting more than the relatively rare H1.

I wish GM would allow a petition or something to sway their decision. Kill the H2 and H3, admit that they aren't real Hummers anyway, and keep the H1 for the real hardcore people who need them.

[MikeD]

the H2 and H3 are cash cows in comparison, so it won't happen.

This sums things up. I'm with the stupids who only like the H1, but money talks...what the non-Hummer buying consumer likes walks.

[Airencracken]

Yep. H2 and H3 are just Suburbans and Jeeps, but they are heavier and uglier. No real purpose. And they're relatively cheap, so they're plentiful, guzzling more gas overall and polluting more than the relatively rare H1.

I wish GM would allow a petition or something to sway their decision. Kill the H2 and H3, admit that they aren't real Hummers anyway, and keep the H1 for the real hardcore people who need them.

[Burzhui]

bah i like the H1