Hummer on brink as SUV sales slide

Has Hummer had its day? Sales of the all-American company’s models have slumped by nearly one-third, as US buyers lose their appetites for supersized cars. And bosses at owner General Motors have now officially confirmed Hummer’s future hangs in the balance.

In a statement, GM said it was “considering anything from a complete revamp of the product line-up to a sale of the brand”.

Hummer sales in the States dropped by 29 per cent by the end of April, compared to the same period last year. Ironically, it is doing quite well in the UK and Europe, with around 300 cars finding homes – a rise of 34 per cent. But it’s not only the Hummer that’s out of favour in America. There has been a dip in demand for larger cars across the board, prompting GM to announce the closure of four plants that build pick-ups, SUVs and trucks.

The shift has even seen the Ford F-150 pick-up lose its top spot in the US charts. It’s been the best seller every month since 1981, but was overtaken in May by the Honda Civic.