During the boom years, driving a Hummer in the SCV was a status thing. You had achieved the dream. You had climbed the mountain (especially that little fake one they built next to the dealership). You had arrived.
But now will any self-respecting Valencia mom be caught dead in what will soon be a Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Hummer H2?
General Motors Co. said it had signed a definitive agreement to sell its Hummer sport utility brand to a Chinese heavy equipment maker, potentially achieving an important goal in the U.S. auto company’s post-bankruptcy makeover.
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. intends to purchase Hummer through an investment entity, in which it would hold an 80% stake, GM said in a statement. Suolang Duoji, a private entrepreneur, would hold the remaining 20%. Duoji’s holdings include Lumena Resources Corp. in Hong Kong.
Sadly the days of feeling smug while riding my bike or driving my small car near a Ginormous SCV Hummer are nearly gone. I don’t see them hogging a lane on Valencia Blvd or just squeeking under the parking structure at TCD anymore. The dealership closed up awhile ago, replaced with a small VW shop that sells super-effecient TDI-equipped German precision cars.
What will the moms and SCV stomper-truck/boat-towing crowd drive now? My bet’s on the Escalade, it’s got a better estrogen/testosterone balance after all.
So long and Tzai Djen Hummer!
