Aussie Hummer Launch Delayed By Red-Tape

[JoeT]

Aussie Hummer Launch Bogged Down

Jez Spinks
19 June 2007
www.drive.com.au

The Australian arrival of the Hummer H3, America's most famous off-road vehicle, has been bogged down by red tape.

The local launch of American 4WD brand Hummer has been pushed back three months owing to production delays.

More than 300 Australians who have paid up to $6000 as a deposit for the Hummer H3 are being forced to wait until October instead of July because the vehicle is yet to comply with Australian regulations.

"There have been some issues with local ADRs [Australian Design Regulations] - mudflaps, wiring looms, towbars," says Parveen Batish, managing director of GM Premium Brands in Australia. "They are quite specific things for the Australian market."

"The official launch is being delayed until October, but we will be aiming to get customer cars out as soon as possible."

The H3 is the smallest vehicle in the Hummer range, although it still weights 2.2 tonnes. Despite the brand's strong American roots, the H3 is built in South Africa for global markets.

Seventy per cent of H3s pre-sold are the range-topping, $59,990 Luxury variant. Batish says this is because the range represents great value, with a very small gap between the flagship H3 and the $51,990 base model.

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Hummer Debuts In Australia From $51,990
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[Aych Es Vee]

300 orders already, thats good!

[Z28x]

Do they get the V8?

[69Firebird400]

This sounds like poor project management to me. It's not like these regulations were a secret to a global automaker (especially one who already has a large presence in Australia); they should have anticipated what would be needed to comply with them and either gotten on the ball to develop these modifications earlier in the timeline, or been more accurate in their projected arrival of the H3s. Still, probably not a big deal in the whole scheme of things.

[jbartley]

love that picture!

[samkung]

Why dont they start importing Cadillac, i would love to see the 2008 CTS selling here with the H3;p, we need Cadillac here, there are way too much 3-series driving around + the increasing numbers of Lexus IS (i bet they are selling good, always see them >.<)

NEED CADILLAC!!!!!

[Havasavana]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

This sounds like poor project management to me. It's not like these regulations were a secret to a global automaker (especially one who already has a large presence in Australia); they should have anticipated what would be needed to comply with them and either gotten on the ball to develop these modifications earlier in the timeline, or been more accurate in their projected arrival of the H3s.

Right; the first sentence is misleading. And 'red tape' screw-ups were within GM.

[Caleb02]

i live the chevette on a Hummer h3 frame

[Randle2I]

Originally Posted by Caleb02

i live the chevette on a Hummer h3 frame

huh?

[Lewie]

How is the Hummer H3 considered "America's most famous off-road vehicle"??? Isn't the H2 more famous?

Isn't Jeep even more renowned?

[jbartley]

from the article:

"A new, smaller Hummer called the H4 is in the pipeline, as is a ute-style vehicle."

"There will be 21 Hummer dealers set up initially in Australia, all but five of which are also showrooms for Saab - the Swedish brand that also belongs to the large General Motors empire.

The Australian launch of another General Motors brand, Cadillac, is still no closer, however.

"We're looking at about one and a half to two years out for Cadillac," says Batish, adding that the American brand's set-up in export markets in Europe are being monitored.

Batish says the emergence of next-generation Cadillacs - such as the CTS unveiled at January's Detroit motor show - mean waiting makes sense.

"If you're going to launch a new brand, you should do it with new products," he says."

[GMusa]

If i had the money.. i would be in line to buy the Hummer H3 Alpha with the V8!

The H3 is an awesome vehicle!!

[redTT]

Why dont they start importing Cadillac, i would love to see the 2008 CTS selling here with the H3;p, we need Cadillac here, there are way too much 3-series driving around + the increasing numbers of Lexus IS (i bet they are selling good, always see them >.<)

The CTS would be a failure!!!!!!

Its simply not good enough and doesnt offer anything new. You could get a far better Aussie made car.

[Phoenix]

"We're looking at about one and a half to two years out for Cadillac," says Batish, adding that the American brand's set-up in export markets in Europe are being monitored.

Batish says the emergence of next-generation Cadillacs - such as the CTS unveiled at January's Detroit motor show - mean waiting makes sense.

"If you're going to launch a new brand, you should do it with new products," he says."

Makes sense, wait for an updated XLR, STS/DTS replacement, "BLS".

[mikmak]

Originally Posted by redTT

The CTS would be a failure!!!!!!

Its simply not good enough and doesnt offer anything new. You could get a far better Aussie made car.

I'm not so sure. It will still have trouble pretending to not have a Holden powerplant, but that could still be a plus. I'm sure there are many Calais customers that want something more exclusive and CTS could be it. It wont be more than a niche vehicle but it will fill that niche.