External Environment GMC HummerCustomersThere are two distinct groups of people who purchase Hummers: those who use it for practical purposes and those who drive the vehicle as a status symbol. The first group of people are those who drive the vehicle for more practical purposes. According to the Hummer article, the Hummer was built based on the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Hum-Vee) concept. HMMWVs were military vehicles that provided assistance to troops in rugged terrain environments (2006, p.1). Therefore, a segment of the Hummer enthusiast population is the type of people who enjoy driving these vehicles off-road, along with the power provided by the vehicle to climb steep hills, rough terrain obstacles and even drive it through waters. shallow. The second group of people are those who drive the vehicle as a status symbol. Gross explains that after the World Trade Center attacks, “Hummers became an arrogant symbol of American greatness” (p. 1). The people who drove the Hummer were those who wanted to show support for the troops in Iraq and stimulate the economy (2006, p.1). However, people who don't buy the Hummer to support the war; buy the Hummer for the status the car exudes. For example, these people may want to show off how successful they are, show that they enjoy the finer things in life, have one of the largest vehicles on the road, or appreciate the rugged appearance of the vehicle. CompetitionThe Hummer has stuck itself in a niche market whose design has yet to be explored in the mainstream automobile market. When you think of a vehicle that is both large and powerful, the first vehicle that most people think of is the Hummer. However, as the Hummer slowly enters the luxury SUV market with the introduction of the H3, the market is becoming very fierce. Almost every major automaker offers an SUV vehicle on the market; for example, Land Rovers which are known for their world-class luxury SUVs. Additionally, Jeep has become a competing force in the SUV market by offering rugged 4x4 vehicles at affordable prices. Other competitors in the SUV market include Porsche Cayenne; BMW X5, X3; Lincoln Navigator; Acura RDX, MDX; Ford Escape, Explorer, Expedition, Edge; GMC Envoy, Yukon; Buick Rainier, Rendezvous; Cadillac Escalade, SRX; Chevrolet Equinox, HHR, Suburban, Tahoe,