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eneral Motors celebrated the start of production of the HUMMER H3 at its Struandale Assembly Facility inPort Elizabeth , South Africa . The occasion represents an important step in the global expansion of HUMMER by providing increased capacity and a global version of the H3 for markets outside North America . Maureen
Kempston Darkes, president of GM Latin America, Africa
and the Middle East said, "The GM team in
South Africa has demonstrated to the world that
they have the people, the leadership, the technology
and the skills to execute the type of automobile
engineering and assembly that is required in the
new global economy."
Edward Welburn,
GM's vice president of Global Design said, "HUMMER's
iconic design and unparalleled off-road performance
are already recognized around the world. A global
version and international assembly of the H3 are
the next logical step for HUMMER to expand globally."
Until recently, HUMMER had primarily focused
its attention on establishing a strong presence in
North America . GM acquired the brand in late 1999
and since then HUMMER has grown from a brand selling
roughly 1,000 vehicles per year in 2000 to more than
60,000 in 2005. In fact, HUMMER sales nearly doubled
globally in 2005, paced by the launch of the midsize
H3. While much of this growth was in the United States
, HUMMER also saw significant expansion in more countries
around the globe.
"The HUMMER H3 continues to have a significant impact on the awareness and sales performance of the brand globally," said Martin Walsh, General Manager of HUMMER. "With
the assembly of HUMMER H3 in South Africa , we take
the next important step to grow the HUMMER brand
around the world."
HUMMER H3 vehicles built in South Africa will be exported to markets in Europe, the Middle East and Asia . Production of a right-hand drive version will begin in the second quarter of 2007 for export into right-hand markets in Europe and Asia as well as for local sale in South Africa .
GM announced
the $100 million investment in its South African
operations last year. Robert Socia, president and
managing director of GM South Africa described the
project as, "one of the most important milestones in the history of GM in South Africa ." He said, "It's significant that GM chose to place the H3 contract with South Africa as it says a lot about the confidence GM has in our ability to deliver."
In Oman, OTE Group exclusively sells General Motors (Chevrolet, Cadillac, Hummer range of) vehicles in the Sultanate. With the nationwide network of showrooms and service centres,OTE ensures that GM customers are never far from getting a large range and quality after sales service. This has led to more and more customers joining the GM family in Oman
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