Hummer Extends Dealers' Franchise Agreements as GM Mulls Suitors
DETROIT - General Motors Co. is extending franchise agreements by 60 days for the remaining 153 U.S. Hummer dealers while the automaker continues to look for a buyer. The extension gives Hummer leaders until May 1 to either sell the brand, extend the agreements to continue shopping it, or wind it down, said Hummer CEO Jim Taylor in an interview with Automotive News. “We're going to do everything in our power to bring this home in the next couple of months,” Taylor said. But he added: “GM's intention will be more than fair in the wind down process if we get to that stage.” There are “several” parties interested in purchasing Hummer, Taylor said. Chinese regulators declined to approve the sale of Hummer to Chinese manufacturer, Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, earlier this week. Taylor said he is under orders from GM CEO Ed Whitacre to “move fast.” Whitacre did not give Taylor a specific timeframe to get a sale done or pull the plug on Hummer. But Taylor hinted Hummer would likely follow the Saab sale timeframe of about 60 to 75 days. “We're not going to take seven months to a year to do this,” Taylor said. “I call it very fast speed dating. We have to look at each other, see if we like each other and then get it done very quickly.” If GM can't find a suitable buyer for Hummer by May 1, it can either extend dealers' franchise agreements another set amount of days or wind down the brand, Taylor said. Hummer dealers already have wind down agreements, but GM has not invoked them. Taylor said a wind down process would mimic that of GM's Pontiac and Saturn brands. “The amount of retail support in terms of incentives and advertising was very fair and so if we enter this wind down process it'll be very orderly and with GM's support,” Taylor said. “It won't leave dealers in a world of hurt.” GM stopped production on the H3 SUV and H3T pickup on Jan. 13. There are currently 2,521 H3 and H3T trucks in stock. “We've been very conservative in the amount of volume we produced because we didn't know for a long time if we'd live or die,” Taylor said. Dealers will each get financial compensation in the event of a wind down, Taylor said. The amount is already set in each pending wind down agreement, and varies based on several factors unique to each dealership.
More Industry

Gone to the Dogs
A Stellantis brand decided to have some fun with one of its SUVs’ design to address growing emphasis on family pets.
Read More →
Luxe N.C. Dealerships Change Hands
A collection of Italian and English brand franchises were handed off to the owner’s friend in the business and include the Carolinas’ only Ferrari retail stores.
Read More →
Exposure Drives Interest in Chinese Cars
At a recent demonstration, consumers had the chance to ride in a Chinese-branded vehicle, a firsthand experience that improved their perceptions and purchase intent.
Read More →
Automotive Consumers Sink Further in Debt
Most financing metrics hit records in the second quarter as more buyers locked themselves into long terms and high monthly payments.
Read More →
Agent Advocate
Rob Mancuso, who comes from a long line of auto dealers, values general agents’ place in the industry and makes a case for them taking an even bigger seat at the table.
Read More →
Driving Under Distraction
Though consumers gave higher marks to new vehicles in JD Power’s most recent initial-quality poll, high-tech interference worsened, pointing to craving for simplicity.
Read More →
Affordable New Cars a Thing of the Past
More than one out of five new vehicles sell for more than $60,000, according to Edmunds. That's up 7% compared to prepandemic 2019.
Read More →
State Follows Federal Warning on Auto Ads
The Massachusetts attorney general cautioned the state’s automotive dealers to be upfront with the consuming public about their vehicle prices or risk punishment.
Read More →
Consumer Outlook on the Rise
Younger generations are feeling more positive about their financial futures and current affordability pressures than older generations, according to recent TransUnion data.
Read More →
Pennsylvania Dealership Under New Retailers
The sale of the Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store puts a family auto group on a leaner path as first-time dealers take the helm.
Read More →