Hummer Make Overview

In 1979, AM General began preliminary design work on the (M998 Series) High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (pronounced Humvee), a 1.25-ton truck intended to replace the M151 and other light tactical vehicles. The U.S. Army awarded AM General a prototype contract in 1981, and the development and operational testing was conducted over a five-month period in 1982. In March 1983, AM General won an initial contract to produce 55,000 Humvees to be delivered in five basic models and 15 different configurations over a five-year period. The Army subsequently increased their order with over 15,000 additional vehicles, raising the total contract order to 70,000 Humvees.

The Humvee offers exceptional speed, mobility, and agility and is built on a multipurpose platform. Humvees feature full-time four-wheel drive, independent suspension, steep approach and departure angles, 60 percent gradability, and 16 inches of ground clearance. Humvees are currently in use by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy at locations throughout the United States and overseas.

In 1979, AM General began preliminary design work on the M998 Series High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle. On January 2, 1985, AM General rolled the first HMMWV off the assembly line of their new South Bend facility. The first "Humvee" was a standard military vehicle.

In August 1989, the U.S. Army awarded AM General a new multi-year contract for continued production of more than 33,000 Humvees. First deliveries under this new contract began in January 1990. Options raised the number of vehicles produced to nearly 50,000.

The U.S. Army awarded AM General an additional contract in 1994. The latest U.S. Army contract, awarded in 2000, calls for the production of up to 31,474 additional Humvees through 2007. Over 175,000 vehicles have been built and delivered to the U.S. Armed Forces and more than 50 friendly overseas nations.

The workhorse Humvee was very prominent in the U.S. military action in Panama in 1989-90 and even more so in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, where some 20,000 Humvees won high praise from U.S. troops. More recently, Humvees have played important roles in Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Wherever American soldiers go, their Humvees go with them.

In 1992, AM General began production of versions of the Humvee for civilian use. Called the HUMMER and known as "the world's most serious 4x4," the vehicle has found favor with commercial users who appreciate the value of HUMMER's long life and amazing performance, and individuals who seek the ultimate in toughness and mobility.

In December 1999, AM General and General Motors Corporation finalized an agreement to jointly pursue product, marketing, and distribution opportunities for HUMMER. GM acquired the exclusive ownership of the HUMMER brand name worldwide, and the current HUMMER was renamed the HUMMER H1. In 2002, AM General began assembling the HUMMER H2, a new "next generation" sport utility vehicle designed by GM. GM now has responsibility for marketing and distributing all HUMMERs.

In 2005 General Motors rolled out the 2006 HUMMER H3 midsized SUV.