The company which was awarded the government contract to build the original Humvee for the U.S. Army may soon be building the Standard Taxi, another specialty vehicle, this one thought up by VPG Autos. The car could start production as soon as next year, provided VPG Autos secures the necessary financing, AM General spokesperson Craig Mac Nab said.
Mac Nab went on to say production of the Hummer H2 SUV and SUT would continue at the Mishawaka, Indiana plant, alongside the Standard Taxi, Mac Nab told the TheHummerGuy.com. Whether the recent review of the Hummer brand is having an effect on production at the plant is not known, as production of the 2009 trucks is due to start this week.
The rear-wheel drive Standard Taxi will be powered by GM’s 4.3-liter V6 that will be “calibrated to taxi-duty cycle” and weigh in at an SUV-like 4,500lbs. While that does not sound like an appealing option for taxi cab operators in light of $4-per-gallon gas, the Standard Taxi will feature a passenger capacity of four plus a spot for a wheelchair-bound rider.
