The Tomcar (stylized as TOMCAR) is a type of commercial

off-road Off-roading is the activity of driving or riding in a vehicle on unpaved surfaces such as sand, gravel, riverbeds, mud, snow, rocks, and other natural terrain. Types of off-roading range in intensity, from leisure drives with unmodified vehicl ...

utility

vehicle A vehicle (from la, vehiculum) is a machine that transports people or cargo. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles (motorcycles, cars, trucks, buses, mobility scooters for disabled people), railed vehicles (trains, trams), wat ...

. The name was used earlier on a French 50cc

microcar Microcar is a term often used for the smallest size of cars, with three or four wheels and often an engine smaller than . Specific types of microcars include bubble cars, cycle cars, invacar, quadricycles and voiturettes. Microcars are often ...

which could be operated without a license. Tomcar is a manufacturer of off-road UTV vehicles. All Tomcars start with a fully welded frame and roll cage utilizing steel on load-bearing components and an aircraft-grade aluminum skid plate for impact protection. The users of Tomcars range from mining companies, cinematographers, recreational hunters, and special operations groups.

History and operations

The Tomcar company was founded in Kibbutz Givat HaShlosha, Israel by Yoram Zarhi, in the 1980s. The company has a workshop in Israel, a manufacturing plant in Arizona, United States, and a planned assembly plant in

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics o ...

, United Arab Emirates. Tomcars are used by the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through c ...

. They were also purchased by the British armed forces for use in Afghanistan, among other operations. They were used to retrieve supply drops. These were later sold in the private sector.

Models

The Tomcar TM, the original Tomcar that remains in use today, is a 2WD 2, 4, or 6 seater vehicle with varying cargo space and both combustion and electric powertrain options. The Tomcar TX, is a 4WD vehicle. The TX has 17" ground clearance, 4-wheel independent suspension, a one-piece fully welded frame and roll cage, an aluminum skid plate, and a low center of gravity intended to maximize safety, stability, and performance. It also has a one ton payload.

References

External links

Tomcar.com
{{Automotive industry in Israel Off-road vehicles All-wheel-drive vehicles Military vehicles of Israel Military light utility vehicles ATVs Recreational vehicle manufacturers