AM General
AM General
AM General is based in Indiana and traces its roots to 1903 and the Standard Wheel Company. Today, it is best known for producing the Hum-Vee or Hummer after developing the High Mobility Multipurpose Vehicle (HMMV or “Hum-Vee”) for the military through its dedicated Defense and Government Products Division which in turn became AM General. The company transferred the rights to the Hummer to General Motors in 1999 (who in turn have disposed of the Hummer to a Chinese corporation in 2009).
The company also produced the popular Jeep DJ-5 (Delivery Jeep) which is used by the US Postal Service and has right-hand drive to allow the mail carrier to put mail in the box without leaving the vehicle – this has been produced in huge numbers. In addition, the company produces Standard Taxi’s commencing in 2009 and remains an independent company despite ownership passing through several hands (currently owned by MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings).
AM General is a stand-alone company which operates out of Indiana, USA. The company was derived from the Studebaker Defense and Government Products Division which later became AM General. Currently, the company has close associations with General Motors but is owned by MacAndrews and Forbes Holdings (a private investment consortium).
The company is best known for producing the “Hummer”; initially the company produced a military vehicle, the High Mobility Multipurpose Vehicle (Hum-Vee) and civilian demand soared for this ultimate off-road vehicle after it featured very publically in the First Gulf War in 1993. The rights to the Hummer were sold to GM in 1999 but AM General continued to build them under contract for GM.
The company is also well-known for producing the mail carrier vehicles used by the US Postal Service – the DJ7 Jeep (Delivery Jeep) – this has right hand drive to allow the carrier to deliver mail without leaving the cab. AM General is also producing Standard Taxis from 2009 and is a well-known manufacturer of public utility vehicles such as buses.
