It was one of our greatest hints as to where the Corvette may be headed next; almost two years ago, it was revealed General Motors was locked in a heated IP battle in Australia regarding the Corvette’s emblem.
That battle, which began in 2013, is still ongoing, per a new report from Wheels. It’s long been rumored the C8 Corvette will grace Holden’s lineup as a range-topping super car, as well as switch to a mid-engine configuration. GM has reportedly spent thousands of dollars in a fight against IP Australia, the country’s government body presiding over trademarks.
The issue still remains: IP Australia believes the Corvette’s twin-flag badge infringes on the Red Cross. GM’s trademark application was rejected in 2016 over the matter. The emblem’s misuse is protected through the Geneva Conventions Act of 1957, which states the symbol may only be used during times of conflict as a “do not fire upon” marking. The symbol is normally saved for medics, doctors and ambulances.
The latest move by GM comes with a “divisional” application, which effectively tweaks the original trademark application to slightly change what it covers. In the process, this buys more time for GM.
“A divisional application effectively allows the applicant to overcome an objection to the application by excluding some goods or services to which an objection relates thereby allowing the parent application to be registered for goods and/or services to which the objection does not relate,” Nicola Scheepers, a principal at intellectual property law firm Griffith Hack, said.
It’s clear GM wants Corvette in Australia for one reason or another, but our bet is the Corvette team is finally thinking global and wants to grace right-hand drive markets with the brute from Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Comments
C8 in 2020 down under with RHD.
These expensive fights are common and why many cars use numbers and letters.
The IP issue is just to be ready of the Corvette race team needs to appear in Australia for a future IMSA or WEC round. Truth is, a mid-engine Corvette made in Bowling Green would cost AU$250,000 at least. Meaning only lawyers and CEO’s could afford one after spending over a million on a two-bed-two-bath in the distant suburbs of Sydney. Let me tell you from experience that Sydney lawyers and CEO’s don’t like America, they think we are gauche. They will blow their $250k on a German. Bogans who like the Seppo’s, they buy El Camino style Ute’s. The rear-drive sports car will be an AWD Commodore Wagon sent to the HSV workshop to have the rear roof hacked off and the front shafts removed.
What are you going to do when the cheaper version comes out that is only $70K American? That is not going to translate to $250K AU.
Remember all the complaints about the Camaro6’s price? And now they are going to make a mid-engined car for the same price as the front-engined? If they sell one in Oz for less than AU200k it will be a 15-car special promo to basically function as an ad for Wheels and Motor.
If it is possible; sell Corvettes with the standard left hand drive and let the buyer learn to drive in that manner.
Not possible down under. They have strict rules for the cars to be converted in a specific time one in country.
They also make you place a larger sign on the bumper announcing it is LHS
Now enforcement is strict in the east and large cities but out on the west coast they can and do look the other way. I have people I know there with imported older GM cars and their conversation are very well done.
Now on a new import by a mfg I would expect ther is no tollarace for it not being RHS from the start.
You can’t sell new cars in Australia that are LHD.