AM General opens plants, testing grounds to media for close look at new JLTV A2's

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- It's one of the area's largest employers and the work it does help our armed forces on the front lines.

AM General opened their doors to media Wednesday for a close look at its newest projects.

Local TV reporters and defense trade journalists from Washington DC got to take a tour inside two plants on AM General's campus off McKinley Avenue to see the assembly lines for the company's most iconic vehicles: the Humvee and the JLTV A2.

At capacity, a plant is able to produce 80 Humvees and 15 JLTVs in one day, but production amounts depend on demand and rates.

After seeing the process of how the vehicles are made from start to finish, they were put to the test.

Media members were taken to AM General's proving grounds and testing center off Chippewa Avenue, where they got to go through several obstacle courses and tracks in both vehicles, like driving through three feet of water and driving on 40- and 60-degree slopes.

The goal was to feel the range of suspension and durability for the military-grade vehicles.

John Chadbourne, AM General's CEO says the company not only works for the government, but it also works for Sergeant Smith, which is what they call the war fighters who use its vehicles in battle and mission.

He says despite a slip in schedule impacting production of the new JLTV A2's, he believes AM General is ready to ramp up if demand rises due to conflict.

"Internationally, we are seeing a surge in demands, I think domestically it ebbs and flows a little bit, it depends on the defense budget," explains John Chadbourne, AM General CEO. "I feel very comfortable now that we are producing the most capable vehicle out there for the warfighter and to me, that really matters."

AM General is planning to deliver four prototypes of their UGV's (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) by January of 2027 to the US Government.

They were one of five companies down selected for the program.