GM invests in plant to make Hummer pickup

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors announced Tuesday that it would invest $73 million to outfit its Shreveport, La. factory to build a new Hummer pickup called the Hummer H3T.

Unlike the Hummer H2 SUT, a version of the Hummer H2 SUV, the H3T will be a pickup truck rather than an SUV with just a small open bed.

2004 Hummer H3T concept

A Hummer H3T, concept truck was shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2004.

The production version is scheduled to go on sale in the fall of 2008, according to GM (Charts, Fortune 500). The new vehicle will be unveiled in early 2008 said Hummer spokesman Nick Richards.

"The H3T is unique for Hummer because it is the brand's first true pickup," said Troy Clarke, president of GM North America. "Like every Hummer model, the H3T delivers capabilities unparalleled in the marketplace and will carve out a new niche in the truck market."

GM executives have said in the past that the brand would be increasing its product line beyond the Hummer H2 full-sized SUV and H3 mid-sized SUV.

The H3T will be slightly longer than the H3 SUV. It will be larger than a mid-sized truck but smaller than a full-sized truck, GM said. Unlike the concept vehicle, the production version will have a four-door cab.

Other Hummer products GM has said it is considering include a small off-road vehicle that would compete against the Jeep Wrangler and an off-road capable hybrid vehicle.