Previously referred to as AM General, Hummer began as the General Products Division of AMC Jeep. In 1983 the U.S. government awarded the military contract for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) to AM General. In 1992 AM General was purchased by the Renco Group, Inc., which introduced a civilian version of the HMMWV, the Hummer. General Motors and AM General reached an agreement in December 1999, in which GM acquired exclusive ownership of the HUMMER brand name worldwide.
