NHTSA Nixes GM Hummer2 Label

WASHINGTON--The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has quietly denied a General Motors Corp. attempt to have the automaker’s name appear on the certification label of future Hummer H2 vehicles because the assembly will actually be conducted by another firm.

Because GM was responsible for the design of the Hummer 2, and it purchases and manufacturers almost all of the parts used to make the vehicles, GM wanted its name to appear on the certification label that is required by law to be affixed to new vehicles. As part of motor vehicle safety standard compliance, federal law requires that the “full corporate or individual name of the actual assembler of the vehicle” must be stated on the certification label.

GM contended that it is the rightful manufacturer because GM controls the subcontractor assembler, AM General Corp (AMG), of South Bend, Ind., and that the vehicles will be delivered to GM for inspection, acceptance and shipment to its dealers. The automaker said it would be responsible for any warranty and recall campaign administration.

“We have concluded that GM may not be identified as the manufacturer on the certification labels to be affixed to those vehicles,” said NHTSA lawyer Frank Seales Jr. Seales added that AMG, and not GM, will be the actual assembler of the Hummer H2, and that GM has no equity stock interest in the AMG company, and therefore does not control AMG.

“If GM wishes its name to appear on the certification label for the Hummer H2, there is nothing to preclude the label from stating that the vehicle was manufactured by AMG for GM,” Seales said, adding that the certification label for a 1997 Ford Aspire reads manufactured “by Kia Motors Co. for Ford Motor Co.”