Gibbs to Build Humdinga Amphibious Truck in Asia to Help with Tsunami Relief

10 years, 10 months ago - 18 February 2014, Autoblog

While the flying car (at least as we dream of it) is likely never going happen, the floating car is a problem that has been solved for decades. In fact, Gibbs Amphibians may have taken the concept farther than anyone else in history with its line amphibious cars, trucks and quads.

However, its vehicles don't just have to be for fun – they can also help people. At least, that's what Gibbs thinks – the small automaker has licensed its Humdinga amphibious truck to Singapore Technologies Kinetics Ltd to assist in future tsunami and flood relief in the region.

The 12-year deal allows the Asian company to build and sell the Humdinga in Southeast Asia, and it plans to use them for light-duty patrol, rapid response. emergency rescues, medical evacuations and the transport of emergency supplies and personnel. The Humdinga is a 21.5-foot long, all-terrain, amphibious truck that can carry up to seven people or 1,653 pounds of payload. It is powered by a turbocharged diesel engine, and can reach up to 30 miles per hour (50 km/h) on water and highway speeds on land. It can retract its wheels up into the body in seconds and uses water-jet propulsion to be safe in shallow water. On the road, it has all-wheel drive and disc brakes.

Gibbs has patents on the technology to make its vehicles watertight with retractable wheels and full suspension, and is working on more deals to sign licensing agreements with more manufacturers in the next several years. The amphibious trucks seem like a great solution to flood relief.