HUMMER H3T To Make Texas Debut

Off-road manufacturer announces plans and initial suppliers for licensed accessories for the brand’s first pick-up truck

DALLAS - Truck-savvy Texans received a firsthand look at the 2009 HUMMER H3T as HUMMER debuted the brand’s first pick-up truck to media attending the Dallas Auto Show today.

Texas represents an important market to HUMMER as the brand prepares to launch its newest product. In addition to a reputation as the nation’s truck capitol, Texas also represents a significant percentage of HUMMER’s national sales. In 2007, HUMMER sales in Texas represented 11.6% of HUMMER national sales, up 24.9% from 2006.

“With its unique size and HUMMER traits, the H3T is ideal for the customer who works hard and plays harder,” said Martin Walsh, HUMMER general manager. “It offers the combination of truck versatility and HUMMER off-road prowess that delivers customers to the trail in style.”

The H3T is based on the architecture of the award-winning H3, but features a full crew cab and a separate five-foot-long (1.5 meters) bed.

Larger than a midsize truck and smaller than a full-size truck, the H3T creates its own niche in the market. It also is infused with the attributes expected of a HUMMER, including exceptional off-road capability and a premium interior that is as functional as it is comfortable.

HUMMER also revealed more detail around its plan to offer approximately 125 accessories for the H3T.

“The strategy for the H3T was to develop an extensive line of vehicle accessories that allows buyers to personalize the truck to meet their active lifestyle, from water sports to field and stream hobbies; extreme sports to sport-vehicle recreation,” said Walsh.

The current HUMMER customer adds three-to-four accessories to their vehicle at time of purchase, and GM research shows that the average truck buyer will add accessories up to a year after they purchase the vehicle. In 2007, H2 customers purchased an average of $1,800 worth of accessories per vehicle, while H3 customers spent an average of $600 per truck.

At start of production, HUMMER will offer approximately 75 HUMMER Genuine Accessories for the H3T, including brush guards, roof rack crossbars, off-road lamps, assist steps and an extensive cargo management system of bed-mounted storage boxes that mount to the trucks standard aluminum bed rail system.

Unlike many aftermarket accessories, HUMMER Genuine Accessories parts are designed specifically for HUMMER vehicles and validated to the same rigorous standards and specifications as the vehicle’s stock components.

In addition to the HUMMER Genuine Accessories portfolio, HUMMER will introduce a new line of HUMMER Officially Licensed Accessories for the H3T. This line of approximately 50 functional accessories is being developed by some of the industry’s most respected automotive aftermarket suppliers, including SnugTop, Defenderworx, Truck Vault, MileMarker, Bushwacker, Boomerang and DiamondBack Truck Covers.

“The full range of accessories available for the H3T will make it one of the most customizable trucks available,” concluded Walsh.

The entire portfolio of HUMMER Genuine Accessories and HUMMER Officially Licensed Accessories will be available to customers through HUMMER dealers when the H3T goes on sale later this year.