Rumormill: Chevrolet Volt To Be Sold As Buick In China?

Chevrolet has set some very lofty goals for itself, especially in Europe and Asia. But it looks like the hotly-anticipated Chevrolet Volt won’t be wearing Chevy’s bow tie when the extended-range EV launches in China next year. Instead, Chinese patent filings show the Volt with a Buick badge and Ampera nameplate. In fact, the Volt will be sold in no less than five brands worldwide:

• 2011 Chevrolet Volt (US)
• 2012 Opel Ampera (Europe)
• 2012 Vauxhall Ampera (UK)
• 2013 Holden Ampera (Australia)
• 2012 Buick Ampera (China)

All variants will be built alongside the Chevrolet Volt at the Detroit-Hamtramck factory. From there, global variants will be exported to their respective markets.

GM’s decision to sell the Volt as a Buick in China is most likely due to the brand’s popularity in that country. Buick carries a premium status despite Cadillac’s presence in China since 2004. The Buick Ampera will be introduced to the Chinese Market as a 2012 model, but we have two question about this development:

1. Will the Chinese embrace this?
2. With five models of the Volt being sold worldwide, could there be room for another GM brand to have its own model?

It looks like only time will tell.

[Source: The Car Connection]