Car Advice

Hummer deal threatened by Chinese Govt

By David Twomey |

The Chinese heavy machinery maker that agreed to buy General Motors’ Hummer brand may find the biggest stumbling blocks to the deal in its home country.

Following last week’s surprise announcement that Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery and GM had reached an agreement, analysts and Chinese media were buzzing with talk that the two companies might have jumped the gun.

Reuters newsagency says the pitfalls range from regulatory to financing issues.

GM said a day after its bankruptcy filing that it did not expect any regulatory scrutiny from the US government on the deal, part of its attempt to restore profits by focusing on four core brands: Buick, GMC, Cadillac and Chevrolet.

2008 HUMMER H3 Alpha

According to Reuters many China watchers say that resistance could actually come from China itself, as Beijing pushes for development of more energy-efficient technologies that go contrary to Hummer’s lineup of big SUVs.

As the world’s second-largest energy user, China is trying to encourage its citizens and industry to be more fuel efficient to lower its energy bill and improve its environment.Hummer H2 Assembly Plant

The Hummer deal may also not get government approval as Beijing is not encouraging its carmakers to make foreign acquisitions, the official Shanghai Securities News reported, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

“Some people may have views and speculation but the Chinese government has a process that we respect,” the Tengzhong official said.

“We have only just signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), but as we develop our proposals with GM and Hummer we will continue to work with the appropriate authorities.”

GM Shreveport Assembly Plant

Some analysts said Chinese leaders may also be reluctant to let a company with no experience running an overseas operation take on such a high profile and risky acquisition.

“Obviously, Tengzhong is not a well-established company, and its business doesn’t fit well with Hummer, so the deal looks tricky,” said Jeffery Wang, Shanghai-based managing director of investment bank Business Development Asia.

“Apart from that, buying Hummer should be a poor business decision in the long run, as … I don’t think Tengzhong has the ability or resources to turn the business around. … I don’t think any banks would be willing to fund the acquisition by a company without a solid background.”

2009 HUMMER H3T

Tengzhong was in advanced talks with banks, a spokeswoman from Tengzhong told Reuters.

“However, as you would appreciate, the funding can’t be finalized prior to a definitive agreement being signed,” she said.

Little is know about Tengzhong, which is based in the Chinese province of Sichuan, other than it makes special-use vehicles, highway and bridge structural components, construction machinery and energy equipment.

Tengzhong was formed in 2005 through a series of mergers and, according to its Web site, has 4800 employees.


 
  • Common Worker

    Why would the Chinese govt what to buy Hummer?They could just copy it and make it more economical by getting it to run on the broken will of the chinese people.

  • Joober

    Infiltrate my friend…. joking, perhaps some sort of transnational interest for sure.

  • B-Man

    This has nothing to do with the government. Tengzhong is a private company that makes heavy machinery used to make roadways. Seems that it is just a publicity stunt from them, as there is no way the chinese government will sign off on this deal. In which case, it’s worked a treat!

  • Realcars

    Population over a Billion!
    Save the planet,LOL.

  • Murano

    I can’t figure out why a small time private company in China that makes construction equipment would want to buy Hummer. Funding-wise and strategic fit is out of sync. IMHO, the deal stinks.

  • Alec

    I think Hummer could be quite successful if they were to develop models using efficient diesels, improve interior space and usability while maintaining their tough go anywhere off road image.

    I would definately have one of the H3 Crew Cabs if it had a Tdi V6.

    After all they are no more thirsty than a Patrol or Cruiser (believe me – I drive a GU Patrol atm), but somehow Hummer has managed to let that slip the minds of consumers.

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  • FrugalOne

    I think Hummer has had its day in the sun and is a passing fad.

    If GM could not get it to work in USA what hope has a bulldozer maker from China?

    Who is actually going to buy them?

    Wonder what the REAL reason for the Chinese buying them?

    Cheers

    F-0

  • Ying & Yang Dong Swing Lo

    They don’t want it because they already have a company building plagerized copies anyhow, Duh!