GM Defense, General Motors’ military vehicle and technology division, is pursuing a contract to produce the JLTV (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle) for the U.S. military. Additionally, GM Defense is looking to develop and produce the next-generation JLTV set to replace the current model.
The JLTV first hit full-rate production in 2019, replacing the up-armored Humvee. The JLTV serves the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps, and was originally designed by Oshkosh Corporation between 2005 and 2015.
Now, in a recent round table with the media attended by GM Authority, General Motors Vice President of Global Product Programs, Tim Herrick, discussed future opportunities for GM Defense as related to the JLTV program.
“We purchased or rented two JLTVs. We actually took one of them and put it on durability [testing] out in [the GM Proving Grounds in] Yuma. And then we brought it back and tore it down in Warren. We actually had the Army in there when we had it in pieces, so we know it as well as or better than Oskhosh now,” said Herrick, who served as interim President of GM Defense until earlier this month.
According to Herrick, GM Defense is seeking to leverage General Motors’ production capabilities to provide the JLTV to the U.S. military.
“The number one item for getting JLTV is getting the manufacturing piece of it. And so we think, taking this full circle, we’ve proved it at Concord [the plant which produces the GM ISV], we’ve proved it at Factory Zero, and we prove when we stand up our plant in Oshawa, Canada during COVID and bring full-size trucks online there, and that would work perfectly for the JLTV,” Herrick said
“If I was sitting in Oshkosh, I would be a bit worried about [GM’s] ability,” he added.
Herrick also discussed how the production could theoretically be set up, with GM Defense taking over a portion of the manufacturing.
“By producing [the JLTV], we can also reduce the risk for the Army. We can bring in our industrial commercial base to bear on those pieces, we would love to have a split buy. That’s probably what we will propose for the JLTV, that [the Department of Defense] split it and we take 30-50 percent of it,” Herrick said.
With production secured, GM Defense would then be poised to pursue the next-generation JLTV.
“Once that happens, you have two very viable competitors, one better than the other, you know who that is, and we would go after the next generation that’s lighter, faster, more sophisticated. We think that $12.3 billion to one supplier, we’d like to get in on that to deliver a better product.”
When asked about the prospect of a split buy and the Army’s reaction to such a proposal, Herrick indicated positivity.
“We’ve talked a lot about it. They’re open to it as part of the original thinking that they had. As they’re talking, we think they’re open for it. They haven’t shut the door on us,” Herrick said.
The recently-appointed GM Defense President Steve duMont also weighed in on the subject, saying:
“And it’s great to have our teammates here at Hendrick [Motorsports, a supplier for the GM ISV] and our teammates at Ricardo [another partner for the GM ISV], we think there’s a lot of value we can bring on JLTV and other programs. We’re not going to stop there, we’re going to continue looking for opportunities to bring the best technology,” duMont said, adding, “Competition is good, it drives cost down, and it brings innovation.”
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View Comments
Nice, GM already does the engines via Gale Banks
They drove it and took it apart and now they know it better than Oshkosh? What a joke.
I am all for the Army buying from multiple manufacturers, competition is good for the taxpayer! GM is going to go after OshKosh's mail truck contract next... Once again, competition only benefits the taxpayer.
I think this plan looks good as when GM shut the doors on Truck building in Canada it failed to account for any defence build. This would not have worked as a China build or Korea. Nice move GM.
I'd pass on a defense vehicle from lower case gm. We want to wins wars, not strand our troops.
Well the JLTV from OshKosh already has a GM engine, so might as well listen to a bid for GM to manufacture some of the trucks.
Can someone please explain how Oshkosh won the contract to design and build these, yet GM thinks it can take over production (or at least part of it)? The article isn't too clear.
Wondering about that, how can GM not end up in court over this?.
They are dreaming again
These contracts are all phased out, so Oshkosh won the first phase, but if GM can convince the Army they can do better, faster cheaper, they can take the next buy... All government contracts are like this. JLTV is planned for decades, and 10's of thousands of units, there is room for 2 contractors. Also supplying USA allies would be up for bid.
I wonder if it can get Adaptive Cruise Control on it like you can on Rheinmetall new-gen HX3 tactical truck, but can't get on a GM HD truck.
Once again I believe GM is under estimating the competition. It's a dog eat dog business. There are a lot of Defense contractors out there who think the same way that they are the best. Defense contract awards go to the lowest bidder who meets the vehicle specs not who you are.
The article isn't clear about how in the world GM think they can take over a contract already in force. This is like asking some else's wife out. JLTV contract fully awarded to Oskosh since 2015. Oshkosh has already produced thousands of vehicles, then all of a sudden GM defense comes out of nowhere, literary they were not even exist at that time, and jump a claim. This sounds completely against business ethics.
You are right. This isn't going to happen. We took one apart and now we know as much as Oshkosh? gm is high on their own supply. Oshkosh has won just about every military wheeled vehicle contract in the past ten years against competitors who were just as (over)confident of their superiority. Oshkosh knows what they're doing.
With the ''big guy''war mongering buddy's having his ear many of these may be needed,back to sticking our beak in the middle east constantly.
People asking what's GMs angle here. Well, it's the governments desire to not be single source on a critical product), and being very cost competitive by leveraging the scale of GM purchasing and being more vertically integrated (ie making their own engines). As far as the contract, all depends how it's written. If the military is entertaining the idea, clearly there is a clause of some sort that makes this possible. No idea what their chances are, I agree with the rest of you Oshkosh isn't stupid by any stretch. But neither is GM so who knows, even if it's small they do have an angle it seems.