Humvees featured GM's 6.2L diesel engines, Turbo-Hydramatic TH400 automatic transmissions, full-time four-wheel drive, and fully independent suspension. The platforms provide sixty percent grade ability, 16 inches of ground clearance, along with steep approach and departure angles to make for a rugged all-purpose vehicle. The Humvee is in use with all of our armed forces in more than 350 locations throughout the world.
American Ownership
The LTV Corporation purchased AM General in 1983 and predictably established it as a wholly owned subsidiary. Two short years later, the company moved its headquarters to South Bend, Indiana. Humvee contracts continued, though at a bit slower pace for 33,000 units during 1989, and then another 10,000 additional units in 1995 and 1996.
In 1992 the Renco Group purchased AM General, and in that same year the civilian Hummer was introduced. Other military contracts continued in 1994, when the company began upgrading and rebuilding 5,484 of the Army's M35A3 2 1/2-ton six-wheel-drive trucks. In 1999 AM General purchased the rights to build the General Motors 6.5L diesel engine and created General Engine Products (GEP) when GM dropped the engine in favor of the new 6.6L Duramax.
What's General Motors' Connection?
Another milestone occurred in 1999 with the joint product marketing and distribution of Hummer-branded vehicles with General Motors. It is important to note that General Motors only bought the rights to the Hummer brand name, not any part of AM General. Over the years, AM General has used many General Motors components (primarily engines and transmissions), while AM General produced the civilian Hummer H1 and H2 to be sold through GM dealers.