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AM General

AM General is an American manufacturer of specialty and military vehicles, best known for the HMMWV, commonly called the Humvee.

Last updated October 21, 2026

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Overview

AM General is a vehicle manufacturer headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Its business is centered on military, government, commercial and other specialty vehicles rather than conventional passenger cars. The company is best known for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV, commonly called the Humvee. The vehicle became one of the most recognizable military vehicles in the world through extensive use by the United States military and armed forces in other countries. AM General traces its roots to military and specialty-vehicle operations within the American automotive industry and was established as an independent company in 1971. It has also been involved in the production of commercial vehicles, buses and other special-purpose vehicles. Civilian Hummer vehicles increased public awareness of the AM General name, but the Hummer passenger-vehicle business was later operated by General Motors and should not be treated as identical to AM General’s current military-vehicle business. The company’s principal capabilities include off-road mobility, durability, military-standard manufacturing and vehicle life-cycle support for government and defense customers. As a privately held company, it publishes relatively limited financial and volume data.

History

AM General’s history comes from military and specialty-vehicle manufacturing within the American automotive industry. The company was established as AM General Corporation in 1971, developing manufacturing capabilities related to military vehicles, commercial vehicles and other special-purpose vehicles. Its business has long been closely connected with procurement by the United States government and military, with an emphasis on off-road mobility, reliability and maintainability in demanding environments. During the 1980s, AM General began producing the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, or HMMWV. The vehicle became an important tactical platform for the United States military and, through its distinctive appearance and extensive visibility in military operations, became widely known as the Humvee. Military HMMWV production remains the principal source of AM General’s public brand recognition. The company also produced buses and other commercial and specialty vehicles. In the 1990s, AM General introduced a civilian version of the HMMWV, helping make the Hummer name familiar to the broader public. General Motors later assumed commercial operation of the Hummer brand and introduced different vehicles; that passenger-vehicle business is distinct from AM General’s military-vehicle manufacturing activities. In the 21st century, AM General has continued to focus on military and specialty vehicles, as well as manufacturing, modernization and support services for government customers. The company is privately held, and public information about ownership changes, orders and operating performance is less extensive than for publicly traded automakers.

  • 1992
    [4]
  • 1980
    [3]
  • 1971
    [1]

Products and positioning

  • 1980

    High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle

    The HMMWV is AM General’s best-known military vehicle line. It supports transport, communications, reconnaissance, weapon-carrier and other tactical roles, emphasizing off-road mobility, structural durability and maintainability in demanding environments.

  • 1992

    Civilian Hummer

    The civilian Hummer was derived from the HMMWV and adapted for road use and private customers. It substantially increased public awareness of the AM General name, although later passenger-vehicle operations under the Hummer brand became distinct from AM General’s military-vehicle business.

Controversies

  • 2020

    Court dismisses AM General’s Humvee lawsuit against Activision

    A U.S. district court dismissed AM General’s lawsuit against Activision over the use of Humvee vehicles in Call of Duty, ruling that the game’s use did not infringe AM General’s rights.

  • 2020

    Court dismisses AM General lawsuit against Activision

    A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by AM General against Activision concerning the depiction of Humvees in the Call of Duty games. The court agreed with the position that the vehicles' inclusion furthered the games' artistic realism. The ruling resolved the dispute over the use of the vehicle depictions in the games.

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