In 1979 AM General began the design of the M998 Series High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle which was known as HMMWV (pronounced Humvee®) which in essence was a 1.25 ton truck which was to replace the M151 and other light vehicles. AM General gained a prototype contract from the US Army in 1981 and development bagen over a month period in 1982. In 1983 AM General took on a contract worth just over $1b to produce 55,000 Humvees over a 5 year period. This order was then changed as the US Army raised the number to 70,000 Humvees at $1.6b.
The Humvee offers a combination of outstanding speed, mobility and agility and it’s permanent 4 wheel drive, independent suspension, steep approach and departure angles and 16 inch ground clearance is what makes it favoured by the US Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy nationally in the US and overseas. In 1983 the LTV Corporation tookover AM General from the American Motors Corporation and established it independently as a subsidery of the LTV Aerospace and Defence company.
1984 saw the company move to South Bend, Indianna where in 1985 the first Humvee rolled off the assembly line. This was the standard military vehicle. In 1989 the us Army proposed a new contract for 33,000 Humvees which began in 1990.
The US Army, in 1994, created yet another contract with AM General. 2000 saw the most recent contract for the production of over 30,000 more Humvees which is to run through to 2007. Over 175,000 vehicles have been built and delivered to the US Forces and over 50 friendly nations.
The Humvee won great respect from US troops in Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and also more recently in operation in the middle east. American troops have come to be fond of the Humvee for various reasons and wouldn’t be without it.
In 1992 AM General was bought again, by the Renco Group, Inc. of New York. Also in 1992 the Hummer was born, the Humvee was asapted for the commercial market. Private owners of the Hummer admire it for the amazing performance and long life.
1999 AM General incorporated GEP (General Engine Products, Inc.) and created a new plant in Ohio where the 6.5 litre diesel engines were to be constructed. 1999 also saw GM gain exclusive ownership of the brand name HUMMER and the current model was renamed Hummer H1. 2002 saw the birth of the Hummer H2 in a new factory in Mishawaka.
2006 gave rise to the slightly smaller mid sized Hummer H3 SUV. Humvee is a registered trademark of AM General LLC. HUMMER, H1 and H2 are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation.