Dubai, United Arab Emirates - 3 January  2006 -  The arrival of the all new 2006 HUMMER H3 at Liberty Automobiles Company  proves that HUMMER is Like Nothing Else in the UAE.  Liberty has already sold its first shipment of H3 cars, and nearly all of the second shipment, which arrived in December. The demand is so high that the current waiting list now extends until March 2006.

With an entry price starting at only Dhs 115,000, the eagerly awaited 2006 HUMMER H3 signals the next chapter of HUMMER'S growing legacy. Together with its larger sibling, the legendary H2, HUMMER is poised to seize leadership of off-road capability among full and midsize sport utilities.

Commenting on HUMMER's impact in the UAE, Chase Hawkins, premium brands director at General Motors Middle East said, "The HUMMER brand is very popular in the Middle East, and the arrival of the H3 to the region has helped to extend the brand's appeal even further.  The response from consumers is very encouraging and demonstrates the strength and popularity of the brand in the UAE, which we are confident will grow our business in this market."

HUMMER in the UAE is available at Liberty Automobiles Company Showrooms in Al Garhoud, Dubai and at Liberty's largest General Motors Showroom in the world on King Abdul Aziz Road in Sharjah. New showrooms and aftersales facilities of Liberty AbuDhabi Automobiles Co. will be opening in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain in the first & second quarter of 2006 consecutively. Liberty will be supported by General Motors' US$60 million Middle East Distribution Centre in Jebel Ali, ensuring ready availability of parts to deliver a great ownership experience to all HUMMER drivers.

"Since we launched HUMMER in the UAE our sales have been incredible, and we are delivering the H3 at a brisk pace to our customers.  We find that the Hummer is popular for its Iconic Image" said Tayeb Al Rais, Managing Director of Liberty Automobiles Co.,  "Together with GM we have enjoyed tremendous growth over the years.  We are continually striving to enhance our customer ownership experience and ensure the best levels of service are provided to our customers."

The H3 represents a significant step in the HUMMER brand's rapid growth, and an important product for its new network of dealers. It joins the H1, the cornerstone HUMMER that was based on the legendary military vehicle; the H2 SUV, the more modern and civilized full-size HUMMER; and the H2 SUT launched internationally in 2004, featuring an innovative reconfigurable cargo bed. 

Just as its legendary H1 and H2 siblings did in the full-size segment, the H3 has seized leadership of off-road capability among midsize sport utilities when it arrived at dealers across the Middle East in Q3 2005.  The H3 packs all of the uncompromising HUMMER style and capability into its midsize dimensions. Roughly the same length as a midsize family sedan, H3 comfortably navigates city traffic and delivers HUMMER's trademark incredible crawling and climbing capability.

-Ends- 

About HUMMER
General Motors Corporation, the world's largest vehicle manufacturer, and AM General reached an agreement in December 1999 in which GM acquired exclusive ownership of the HUMMER brand name worldwide. The iconic HUMVEE is the original HUMMER, the cornerstone of the brand. 

In 2003, HUMMER introduced H2, reflecting an evolution of the brand and making HUMMER more accessible to a wider civilian audience. The HUMMER H2 SUT is an evolution of the H2 which adds even more flexibility for cargo requirements.  The HUMMER H3, a more compact model is being introduced in the region as a 2006 model year.

About Liberty Automobiles Company & Liberty AbuDhabi Automobiles Co.
Established in 1977, Liberty Automobiles Co. is a member company of Dubai-based Liberty Investment Co., which has a diversified portfolio in various business sectors, including automobiles, travel & tourism, transportation, logistics and real estate. Liberty AbuDhabi Automobiles Co. was established in Abu Dhabi in November'05. The Liberty Rally Team, which is owned by Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Liberty Investment Co., recently enjoyed phenomenal success in the 2005 UAE Desert Challenge, winning a total of five awards including 3rd place overall, 6th Place Overall, 1st and 2nd placed Best GCC Arab Team Awards and Best Team Spirit Award. In the UAE, Liberty Rally Team was National Champion in 2003 and 2004 and won the prestigious Golden Sword Award in the 2003 and 2004 '1000 Dunes' rallies.

For more information:
Saada Hammad             
Communications and Public Relations Manager
General Motors Middle East
Tel Dubai +971 4 3143350
e-mail saada.hammad@gm.com  

© Press Release 2006