Chinese SUV maker denies reports it may buy Hummer

Sichuan Automobile Industry Group, a small SUV maker in central China, denied a report that it is in talks to buy GM's Hummer line, in the latest wave of speculation over potential global brand acquisitions by Chinese automakers.

"Who made up that joke? Sorry, I've never heard of such a purchase plan," said an assistant to the general manager of Sichuan Auto Industry, who like many media-shy Chinese would only give his surname, Chen.

"We have no energy to consider making bids for foreign companies, we're too busy running our own business," Chen said. He said the company planned to issue a statement later.

A spokesman for General Motors Corp., Henry Wong, would not comment on the reports or name any potential bidders for the Hummer brand.

In some cases, Chinese automakers have followed through with such purchases: in one of the largest such takeovers, Chinese automaker Nanjing Automobile Group bought MG-Rover. Nanjing Auto was later merged with GM partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp.

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