DETROIT A recent General Motors FastLane blog posting by Hummer General Manager Martin Walsh is drawing criticism from some viewers, who are questioning why General Motors is considering selling the iconic brand.
Walsh's June 6 posting, titled "A Note from Hummer: Let the Speculating Begin," put a positive spin on the ongoing buzz about the fate of Hummer. Last week, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner said, "At this point, we are considering all options for the Hummer brand, everything from a complete revamp of the product line up to a complete sale of the brand."
Walsh followed up by saying Hummer is undergoing "strategic review" and that the automaker "anticipated that subsequent rumors and speculation about the brand's fate would soon begin." Indian automakers Tata and Mahindra & Mahindra reportedly have been approached about potentially acquiring Hummer from GM. Walsh did not address that particular rumor, but he did comment, "In any outcome, there is no denying the potential of a brand which holds such a vivid place in today's culture.
"I want you to know that in the end I believe the Hummer name, and its lineup of iconic vehicles, will still be purchased and enjoyed by customers around the world," Walsh wrote.
One angry GM FastLane viewer responded: "If Hummer is so wonderful and doing so well, why is it up for strategic review? Without the H1, Hummers are nothing but uglified GMCs which are redundant copies of Chevy trucks." Another wrote: "GM has managed to take a global icon and run it squarely into the ground."
Steve Langdon wrote: "Dear GM: You finally come up with a product that I have been waiting for you to put out for years and it has the possibility to crush Jeep, and you want to toss it out the window like a used wrapper. If its (sic) doing as well as you say and its (sic) selling that well over seas then again, why would you sell it?"
A few bloggers backed GM's move to shift gears with Hummer. "I feel at ease after reading this blog," wrote Joe Gakenheimer on June 10. "Men like me still dream of the day when one can be our own!"
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