SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) -- Production of Hummer vehicles would continue at the General Motors Corp. plant in Shreveport through at least 2010 under a tentative deal announced Tuesday by GM to sell the brand to a Chinese manufacturer.
GM did not identify the buyer or a sale price, but a person briefed on the deal said the company was Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. GM said it expected to close the sale during the third quarter.
"Hummer is a strong brand," said Troy Clarke, president of GM North America. "I'm confident that Hummer will thrive globally under its new ownership."
GM said Hummer would contract vehicle manufacturing and business services from GM during a defined transitional time period. Under the proposed agreement, the Shreveport plant would continue to assemble the H3 and H3T pickup truck through at least 2010.
On Monday, the Shreveport plant, which has about 800 workers, escaped GM's plant closure list as the automaker filed for bankruptcy. The plant also produces pickups under the Chevrolet and GMC brands, both of which GM is keeping under its reorganization plan.
Morgan Johnson, head of the United Auto Workers local at the plant, said GM indicated to the union that pickup assembly would continue in Shreveport through 2012.