Editing AM General (section)

== History ==
=== Beginning ===
AM General traces its roots to the [[Standard Wheel Company]] of [[Terre Haute, Indiana]], which expanded in 1903 to include the [[Overland Automobile|Overland Automotive]] Division.<ref name="AM-history">{{cite web |url=http://www.amgeneral.com/corporate/history.php |title=Company History |publisher=AM General |access-date=17 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826093659/http://www.amgeneral.com/corporate/history.php |archive-date=26 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1908, [[John North Willys]] purchased the Overland company, then based in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], and renamed it [[Willys-Overland]] Motors. In 1941, the U.S. Army awarded a contract to Willys-Overland Motor Company to produce the Willys MB, also known as the Jeep, for the US Infantry. It then mass-produced that vehicle as "America's first four-wheel-drive, one-fourth-ton, tactical utility truck"—the [[Willys MB|Jeep]] of [[World War II]] fame.<ref name="AM-history" />

In 1953, [[Kaiser Motors]] purchased Willys-Overland, changing its name first to Kaiser-Willys Motor Company, and in 1963, to [[Kaiser-Jeep]] Corporation. In 1970, it was purchased by [[American Motors Corporation]] (AMC). In July 2020, [[KPS Capital Partners]] acquired the company.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.defensenews.com/land/2020/07/22/private-equity-firm-buys-humvee-maker-am-general/|title=Private equity firm buys Humvee-maker AM General|website=defensenews.com|date=2020-07-22 |access-date=2020-10-02}}</ref>

=== Defense and Government Products Division ===
In 1964, Kaiser-Jeep purchased the [[Studebaker#Studebaker Factories|Studebaker facilities on Chippewa Avenue]] in [[South Bend, Indiana]], which included Studebaker's "General Products Division", along with its substantial defense contracts.

At the time, Kaiser had been awarded a [[United States dollar|US$]]87 million Army truck contract, and under government pressure, agreed to perform the work at the South Bend plant it had recently acquired from Studebaker.

=== American Motors ===
In 1970, [[American Motors|American Motors Corporation]] (AMC) purchased the Jeep Corporation from Kaiser, when Kaiser decided to leave the auto business.<ref>{{cite book|last=Statham |first=Steve |title=Jeep Color History |year=2002 |publisher=MotorBooks International |isbn=978-0-7603-0636-9 |pages=97–100 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=dR3wmKlfnrMC&q=Kaiser+sold+the+Jeep+division+to+American+Motors&pg=PA99 |access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

In 1971, AMC made the General Products Division of [[Jeep]] (producing military trucks as well as contract and non-commercial vehicles) a [[wholly owned subsidiary]] and renamed it "AM General Corporation".<ref name=hyde1>{{cite book |last=Hyde|first=Charles K. |title=Storied Independent Automakers: Nash, Hudson, and American Motors |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=2009 |page=194 |isbn=978-0-8143-3446-1}}</ref>

In 1982, American Motors ceased to function as an independent [[automaker]], when [[Renault]] purchased a controlling interest.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Foster |first=Patrick |title=Biography: Roy Chapin, Jr. |journal=Automobile Quarterly |year=2002 |volume=42 |issue=3 |page=109}}</ref>

US government regulations at that time forbade ownership of [[defense contractor]]s by foreign governments—and Renault was partially owned by the French government.<ref>{{cite book |first1=Byron |last1=Olsen |first2=Joseph P. |last2=Cabadas |first3=Joseph |last3=Cabadas |title=The American Auto Factory|year=2002|publisher=MotorBooks International|isbn=978-0-7603-1059-5|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=iZJzb91qsE4C&q=the+Pentagon+didn't+want+a+French-+controlled+company+making+American+military+equipment&pg=PA127 |page=127 |quote=The Pentagon didn't want a French-controlled company making American military equipment |access-date=21 September 2010}}</ref>

=== LTV Corporation ===
In 1983, [[LTV Corporation]] bought AM General and established it as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 1984, its headquarters moved from the American Motors AMTEK Building in [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]], [[Michigan]], to [[Livonia, Michigan]], and two years later to South Bend, Indiana, where primary manufacturing operations were located.

=== Renco Group ===
In 1992, AM General was sold to [[Renco Group]], which in 2002 converted it to a [[limited liability company]].

=== Hummer brand ===
In 1984, AM General built a factory at 13200 McKinley Hwy in Mishawaka, for HMMWV production.

In 1992, AM General began marketing the HMMWV to the civilian market under the [[Hummer]] brand. In 1999, GM acquired the rights to the brand and continued production of the original civilian Hummer as the [[Hummer H1|H1]] until June 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.foxnews.com/story/gm-end-of-production-line-for-hummer-h1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071022152436/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,195303,00.html?sPage=fnc.business%2Fautos |archive-date=22 October 2007 |publisher=Fox News |title=GM: End of Production Line for Hummer H1 |agency=Associated Press |date=12 May 2006 |access-date=17 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2002, the [[Hummer H2]] went on the market, and was produced until January 2009. It was designed and marketed by GM, and manufactured by AM General at the Mishawaka plant. AM General did not build the H3 model.

GM was sued early in 2003 by [[DaimlerChrysler]], owners of the [[Jeep]] brand, for the resemblance of the Hummer's seven-slot grille to Jeep's.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.autointell.com/News-2001/February-2001/February-21-02-p2.htm |title=DaimlerChrysler Files Suit to Block Copycat Jeep Grille |website=autointell.com |date=21 February 2001 |access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed after acknowledgment of the shared corporate history of AMC and Jeep.<ref>{{cite web |first1=K.C. |last1=Crain |first2=Dale |last2=Jewett |title=GM wins another round in the Hummer-Jeep grille battle |url= https://www.autonews.com/article/20021125/ANA/211250721/gm-wins-another-round-in-the-hummer-jeep-grille-battle |work=Automotive News |access-date=10 June 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200610173721/https://www.autonews.com/article/20021125/ANA/211250721/gm-wins-another-round-in-the-hummer-jeep-grille-battle |archive-date=10 June 2020 |date=25 November 2002}}</ref> GM in turn sued boutique automaker Avanti Motor Corporation of Cancun, Mexico after it introduced the Studebaker XUV at the Chicago Auto show in 2002. GM said Avanti infringed on the Hummer looks by planning a vehicle that closely resembled the Hummer. It seemed the AM General Hummer line had gone full circle back to the original Studebaker General Products Division which was responsible for all military contracts.

=== 2004–present ===
In August 2004, it was announced that [[Ronald Perelman]]'s [[MacAndrews & Forbes]] company would form a joint venture with AM General's then-owner, Renco Group, to give Perelman 70% ownership. The deal reportedly cost close to US$1 billion.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Andrew Ross |last1=Sorkin |first2=Danny |last2=Hakim |title=Perelman Seeks Controlling Stake in Maker of Hummer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/10/business/perelman-seeks-controlling-stake-in-maker-of-hummer.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 August 2004 |access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

In 2008, AM General and the [[MV-1|Vehicle Production Group]] (VPG), of [[Troy, Michigan]], announced that contracts had been signed for AM General to begin producing purpose-built taxi-cabs in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.standardtaxi.com/documents/Issue_11.htm |title=VPG Partners with AM General to Build the Standard Taxi! |publisher=Vehicle Production Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815041910/http://www.standardtaxi.com/documents/Issue_11.htm |archive-date=August 15, 2008 |access-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref> Production began in October 2011. The first vehicle off the line was presented to Marc Buoniconti, a former linebacker for [[The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina|The Citadel]] who was partially paralyzed in 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/06/2011-vpg-autos-mv-1-quick-spin-review/ |date=6 October 2011 |title=2011 VPG Autos MV-1 |first=Steven J. |last=Ewing |website=autoblog.com |access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

In May 2010, [[Azure Dynamics]] announced it had chosen AM General to assemble its electric drivetrain for [[Ford Transit Connect]] vehicles for the North American market at its Livonia, Michigan, factory.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20100518/BUSINESS01/100518048/1210/AM-General-to-assemble-electric-Transit-Connect |first=Brent |last=Snavely |title=AM General to assemble electric Transit Connect |date=28 May 2010 |access-date=17 May 2015}}</ref>

In September 2013, AM General reached an agreement to purchase the [[United States Department of Energy]]'s secured loan to the [[Vehicle Production Group]] (VPG). Prior to this, AM General acted as the sole vehicle assembler for VPG. As a result of this transaction, AM General created a wholly owned company, Mobility Ventures LLC, to operate the Mobility Vehicle-1 (MV-1) business and receive all VPG assets.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.amgeneral.com/corporate/news/amg-announces-agreement-for-vehicle-production-group |title=AM General Announces Agreement Leading To Ownership And Control Of The Vehicle Production Group |date=5 September 2013 |publisher=AM General |access-date=17 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129070847/http://www.amgeneral.com/corporate/news/amg-announces-agreement-for-vehicle-production-group |archive-date=29 November 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, production of the [[Mercedes-Benz R-Class]] began at the Mishawaka assembly plant.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/01/27/mercedes-benz-am-general/22413627/ |title=Mercedes-Benz moves R-Class output to AM General |first=Greg |last=Gardner |agency=Detroit Free Press |date=27 January 2015 |newspaper=USA Today |access-date=24 November 2016}}</ref> Without this deal, "the German automaker would likely have had to shut down production of the vehicle, currently only sold in China."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.autonews.com/article/20150811/OEM01/150819973/mercedes-r-class-production-launched-at-am-general |title=Mercedes R class production launched at AM General |date=11 August 2015 |first=Nora |last=Naughton |newspaper=Automotive News |access-date=24 November 2016}}</ref> Production ended in October 2017.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

In July 2020, investment company [[KPS Capital Partners]] acquired AM General from its previous owner, [[MacAndrews & Forbes]].<ref name=kps1/><ref name=pw1>[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kps-capital-partners-adquirira-am-general-llc-852949524.html KPS Capital Partners adquirirá AM General LLC] on PR Newswire, 22 Jul 2020</ref>

AM General submitted a prototype to become the [[United States Postal Service]]'s [[Next Generation Delivery Vehicle]], but their entry was not chosen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jalopnik.com/here-are-all-the-mail-trucks-that-didn-t-get-selected-1846349662 |title=Here Are All The Mail Trucks That Didn't Get Selected |last=Rodríguez |first=José Jr. |date=25 February 2021 |website=[[Jalopnik]] |access-date=14 August 2021}}</ref>