From the the 90’s to mid-2000’s, the Hummer and its offspring very attractive for gas-guzzling luxury. While General Motors never sold many and the fuel-hungry trucks got dreadful reviews, the cultural imprint was strong. Promoted by then-governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, a model H2 became the most popular toy of the 2003 Christmas season. But it’s not 2003 anymore, and now a Hummer factory is getting developed into one that constructs electric vehicles.
AM General, the company that develops both Hummers and their military equivalent, the Humvee, has sold an assembly plant located in South Bend, Indiana to SF Motors, a subsidiary of the Chinese Chongqing Sokon for $110 million. AM General has maintained control over the elements of the plant that produce military equipment.
The move will conserve 430 union jobs at the plant, and John Zhang, CEO of SF Motors, states in a news release the “deal represents a special opportunity to grow our smart electric vehicle business through the addition of an existing production center and a proficient work force.”
“We didn’t expect it, however we understood the company was having a tough time locking in long-term work here,” states Don Brody, chair of UAW Local 5, to the local South Bend Tribune. “I believe it will be a good thing in the long run.”
The plant, which initially cost $200 million, was constructed for H2s, but the vehicle that has been called among the worst in modern-day history never much traction. When General Motors declared bankruptcy nearly a decade ago, the brand was amongst the very first to be slashed.
When it comes to exactly what will be rolling off the line in South Bend, it’s question mark regarding what will exist. With original Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard on board as a s, SF Motors has yet to share even an idea of exactly what its vehicles would look like, adding that their website only that they will be “clean, smart, quality electric vehicles.”
The plant will have to go through an enormous rehaul to fit SF Motors’ requirements, which the company approximates will cost an extra $30 million. While the company prepares to honor UAW’s three year union contract, it’s said that it will take no less than 2 years before the plant is set to produce items.
