Source: American Military News
The first 2022 GMC Hummer EV pickup has yet to be built, but it is already sold for a whopping $2.5 million.
The buyer — a woman whose name is not public, according to a General Motors spokeswoman —will receive the vehicle with VIN 001 when it rolls off the assembly line at Factory ZERO in Detroit and Hamtramck this fall.
Hummer VIN 001 was sold Saturday evening at the 2021 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the proceeds going to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit that honors firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
The group helps injured military and first responders and the families of those who died in the line of duty.
“We are thrilled with the auction results and what the proceeds will mean for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick and GMC. “We also recognize the support of Barrett-Jackson for this special occasion, which made it a 100-percent charitable endeavor.”
Also auctioned Saturday was the 2021 Ford Bronco 2-Door VIN 001 for $1.075 million. That money will go to the National Forest Foundation and Outward Bound, Barrett-Jackson said in a news release.
On Friday, the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Launch Edition pickup VIN 001 sold at auction for $410,000, all going to United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Also on Friday, $500,000 was raised to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with the sale of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Fastback VIN 001.
‘A piece of history’
The Hummer auction was live on the History Channel and lasted just three minutes, said GMC spokeswoman Tara Kuhnen.
The full $2.5 million will go to charity because Barrett-Jackson waived the fees and commissions typically associated with their collector vehicle auctions, she said.
The Hummer vehicle that rolled across the stage Saturday was a show vehicle. The actual first production vehicle will be delivered to the buyer once it’s built, Kuhnen said.
Frank Siller, CEO of the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, thanked GM and CEO Mary Barra for the contribution helping to build mortgage-free, accessible smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans.
Craig Jackson, CEO of Barrett-Jackson, said in a statement: “We helped raise millions of dollars through the sale of nine charity vehicles, which included a record number of VIN 001 and first production models ever offered at auction. … We’re grateful our partners at Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford and GMC chose to leverage the Barrett-Jackson stage and give collectors the opportunity to own a piece of history and also benefit critical organizations.”
Saturday’s entire auction raised $5.8 million for charities, Jackson said.
Corvette for $3 million
To date, Barrett-Jackson has helped raise more than $133 million for more than 130 local and national charitable organizations through its auctions often attended by wealthy car collectors.
In January last year, car dealer and racing legend Rick Hendrick paid $3 million for the first mid-engine 2020 Corvette Stingray. GM donated the money to the Detroit Children’s Fund.
The car, a 3LT with the Z51 performance package, crossed the block and the energy in the room amplified instantly with the crowd “screaming and the auctioneer was screaming, it was wild,” Hendrick told the Free Press at the time.
More: Man who paid $3M for 2020 Corvette Stingray says he’ll never drive it
Hendrick happens to own one of the largest private collections of Corvettes in the world, including several with vehicle identification number 0001. He is a member of the Corvette Hall of Fame Class of 2015.
He wanted the car to add to his private collection and benefit charity, calling it a “halo vehicle” for car dealers. Hendrick said at the time that Corvette will not see the road.
“I won’t ever drive it,” said Hendrick, who opts to tool around in a black Chevrolet Tahoe SUV instead. “I’ll put it away.”
Orders still being taken
The HUMMER EV Edition 1 is the fully equipped launch model of GMC’s first full-electric vehicle. GMC has 10,000 preorders for the pickup, which starts at $112,595.
GM’s new Ultium Platform battery system will power it and it is designed for extreme off-roading with 18-inch wheels, 35-inch-OD tires, underbody armor, underbody cameras and the ability to move diagonally in CrabWalk mode.
More: GM engineer designed underbody camera for Hummer electric vehicle in his free time
GM has said it will offer 1,000 horsepower and an estimated 11,500 lb-ft of torque. GM estimates it will have a 350-mile driving range on a full charge.
Although the very first Hummer EV Edition 1 is now spoken for, reservations for the rest of the production models are being accepted at gmc.com/HummerEV.
Initial production begins in late 2021, at GM’s Factory ZERO Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly where GM invested $2.2 billion to retool the plant to build all electric vehicles in the future. GM has said all its light-duty vehicles will be zero-emissions by 2035.
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