| There are many consumers worldwide that will be | | | | Hummers have always been a vehicle that has gone |
| shocked to hear about the fact that Hummer have | | | | in and out of fashion. With their distinctive styling, it is |
| made the decision to close down. There are many | | | | easy to understand that some people are never |
| reasons, however, that this decision had to be made, | | | | going to be a fan, but with vehicles coming and going |
| and although fans of Hummer will be saddened to | | | | in fads the disinterest in Hummer over recent years |
| hear of its fall, there will be many more people that | | | | could be put down to the fact that they are simply |
| will be celebrating the demise of this brand. | | | | less coveted in their appearance. Since people want |
| General Motors, the company that owns Hummer, | | | | to buy a vehicle that will impress others, a Hummer is |
| were originally intending on selling the brand, as | | | | stained with the environmental stigma and certainly |
| opposed to halting production altogether. The idea | | | | does not look as good as a Land Rover Discovery or |
| was to sell Hummer to Chinese company Sichuan | | | | Porsche Cayenne either. With some people being |
| Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machines Company. | | | | very passionate about climate change and carbon |
| When this deal fell through, and no other buyers for | | | | footprints, it is easy to understand that they may |
| the brand presented themselves, General Motors | | | | not want to be preached to about their choice in car, |
| were left with no other choice but to close down | | | | and do not want to cause friction between |
| Hummer, in order to save the company from | | | | themselves and family members who are worried |
| bankruptcy. General Motors are no stranger to having | | | | about the environmental impact of these vehicles. |
| to close down brands recently, as they have had to | | | | The decision to close down production of the |
| lose Pontiac, Saturn and are in the process of winding | | | | Hummer comes at a time when interest in new |
| down Saab, also. The closure of these brands means | | | | vehicles all round is at a low. Since the world |
| that General Motors can concentrate on some of its | | | | recession hit, most consumers are more likely to |
| more popular and prestigious brands, Cadillac being | | | | keep the cars that they currently have in order to |
| amongst these. | | | | save their money on things like 4wd road tax |
| Not only is the fact that Hummers are known for | | | | increases, car insurance and additional insurance costs |
| having such poor fuel efficiency, but as mentioned | | | | such as gap insurance. The inclination to try and pinch |
| above with fuel prices reaching all time highs recently, | | | | pennies also means that, where buying a new vehicle |
| economic decisions about just how fuel efficient a | | | | is concerned, people are more likely to purchase one |
| new vehicle is will firmly be in the forefront of buyers | | | | which is friendlier on the pocket than a Hummer. Not |
| minds. When it comes to fuel, not only are people | | | | only is this true in terms of the cost to buy one of |
| fretting economically speaking, but with climate | | | | these vehicles, but also to run one. Well known for |
| change becoming a big concern in many a motorists | | | | being "gas guzzlers", consumers are unlikely to want |
| mind, the environmental worries that come with | | | | to buy a vehicle for which they will incur massive |
| owning a vehicle that would contribute greatly to | | | | monthly fuel bills. During March and April 2010 |
| their carbon footprint makes Hummers less appealing | | | | European and British motorists have seen rapidly |
| to the every increasingly environmentally concerned | | | | increasing fuel prices thanks in part to Govt. fuel tax |
| car buyer. | | | | increases and a reduction in Middle East oil stock piles. |
| Environmental worries and climate change are not | | | | Over a long period of time, the costs of running a |
| solely to blame for the decline in demand for | | | | vehicle like a Hummer no longer make sense in a |
| individuals, but they are also partially the reason why | | | | world where car buyers are increasingly turning to |
| the sale of Hummer to Tengzhong fell through. The | | | | alternative fuelled vehicles. Maintenance and fuel |
| Chinese government had the last say in the sale, and | | | | costs, taxes and the current economic climate, all |
| the decision to disallow Tengzhong from buying | | | | help to play a role in the demise of the Hummer. |
| Hummer was partially due to the environmental | | | | There are many different reasons as to why |
| impact that this would have on the country. China | | | | Hummer has had to be closed down by General |
| also didn't want to place too much reliance on | | | | Motors, but one thing is definite; there may well be |
| importing oil from other countries. Perhaps other | | | | more people celebrating this loss than mourning it. |
| governments could learn from this. | | | | |