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In 1979,
AM General began preliminary design work on the M998 Series High
Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, 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 $1.2 billion 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 valued at $1.6 billion.
The Humvee offers exceptional speed,
mobility and agility and is built upon a multi-purpose platform,
which will accommodate a broad range of configurations. Humvees
feature full-time four-wheel drive, independent suspension, steep
approach and departure angles, 60 percent gradeability 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. |
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| In 1979, AM General began
preliminary design work on the M998 Series High Mobility Multi-Purpose
Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV, pronounced Humvee®) |
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In 1983,
the LTV Corporation bought AM General from American Motors Corporation
and established it as a wholly owned subsidiary of the LTV Aerospace
and Defense Company.
In 1984, the AM
General headquarters moved from the American Motors AMTEK Building
to Livonia, Michigan, and two years later to South Bend, Indiana,
where the primary manufacturing operations were located. |
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| On January 2, 1985, AM General
rolled the first HMMWV (aka. HUMMER) off the assembly
line of their new South Bend facility. The first HMMWV
was a standard Military vehicle. |
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| In 1989,
AM General completed its remaining medium truck business and closed
the Chippewa Avenue facilities in South Bend which had been acquired
from Studebaker in 1964. In early 1990, the AM General headquarters
relocated from Chippewa Avenue to its current offices in downtown
South Bend.
In August 1989, the U.S. Army awarded AM General
a new multiyear contract for continued production of more then 33,000
Humvees. First deliveries under this new contract began in January
1990. Total value of this second multiyear contract was approximately
$1 billion. 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 April 1992, The Renco
Group, Inc. of New York City purchased AM General Corporation from
LTV
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| In 1992, AM General began
production of versions of the Humvee, called the HUMMER for civilian
use. 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. |
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| In 1999,
AM General incorporated a wholly owned subsidiary, General Engine
Products, Inc., (GEP) and constructed a new plant in Franklin, Ohio,
to build 6.5-liter diesel engines. GEP supplies service engines to
General Motor's Service Parts Operation (SPO), and builds engines
for AM General's use, as well as for other customers. |
| 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, at a new factory in Mishawaka. GM
now has responsibility for marketing and distributing all HUMMERs.
In April 2002, AM General
was converted to a limited liability company.
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| AM General also provides
parts and training support for all its products and its Engineering
and Product Development Center provides systems technical support
for several military vehicle systems in addition to the Humvee.
During eight decades of growth, AM General has
established a reputation as the world leader in the design, engineering
and production of military and special purpose vehicles.
Humvee is a registered trademark of AM General
LLC.
HUMMER, H1, and H2 are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.
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| In 2005
General Motors is rolling out the 2006 HUMMER H3 midsized SUV. |
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| Souce: AMGeneral.com |
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