Iconic Brands That Disappeared

2. Hummer

General Motors’ SUV, Hummer was based on the design of the military vehicle known as the ‘High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle’, or “Humvee.” The Hummer was the most popular vehicle in the 2000s. It was also a frequent target of criticism.

Those who used smaller vehicles, which had a huge metallic body, felt it as a nuisance because of it enormous size. A study from the Quality Planning statistical information firm in San Francisco showed that “Hummer drivers got five times as many tickets as drivers of other kinds of cars”, as stated by CNBC. When asked why this happened, Quality Planning President Raj Bhat said that “perhaps Hummer drivers, by virtue of their driving position, are less likely to notice road hazards, signs, pedestrians and other drivers,” as quoted by CNBC.

In 2008, the commercial feasibility of such a masterpiece of prominent consumption was in doubt. GM tried to sell the brand but there was no one to acquire it and in 2010 it was discontinued.