Hummer Bid Puts Spotlight on Obscure China Firm

The Chinese bidder for Hummer says it plans to give the gas-guzzling vehicles new life by promoting the brand around the world, including China, and by investing in clean-engine technologies. However, little in the short history of Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Co. suggests how it might pull off the turnaround of General Motors Corp.'s Hummer brand, a collection of rugged sport-utility vehicles based on the concept of the U.S. military Humvee vehicle, The Wall Street Journal reported. Analysts said the deal could face major hurdles in getting official Beijing sanction because it conflicts with recent changes in China's industrial and environmental policies. The company, which makes heavy commercial vehicles like dump trucks, is little known even among Chinese auto makers. Read more. (Subscription required.)