General Motors seems very much intent on securing rights to the GMC Granite trademark, new activity on the trademark filing shows, as uncovered by GM Authority.
To register GMC Granite as a trademark with the UPSTO, GM has filed not once, not twice and not thrice, but four times – with the most recent filing being in April 2019. And now, on August 6th, 2019, that filing has been published for opposition.
| Word Mark | Filing Date | Serial Number | Status | Goods & Services Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMC Granite | April 11, 2019 | 88381152 | Live | Motor land vehicles, namely, on-road passenger automobiles |
| GMC Granite | May 26, 2015 | 86640666 | Dead | Motor land vehicles, namely, on-road passenger automobiles |
| GMC Granite | November 17, 2010 | 85178926 | Dead | Motor land vehicles, namely, on-road passenger automobiles |
| GMC Granite | November 9, 2009 | 77868149 | Dead | Motor land passenger vehicles, namely automobiles |
When a trademark is published for opposition, it is published in the USPTO’s Official Gazette, giving any outside parties 30 days from the publication date to either file an opposition to the application or file an extension to oppose the application.
Assuming that the GMC Granite trademark application passes this crucial phase, the next step would be for GM to file a Statement of Use with the USPTO, a document that outlines how the application (in this case, GM) will use the trademark in a real-world product or service. GM can also ask for extensions (a maximum of five, each lasting six months) in submitting a Statement of Use document, if it can not immediately demonstrate a real-world product with the Granite name.
In fact, a trademark application can not be successfully approved/registered without providing the trademark office with a Statement of Use document. It is believed that GM’s previous three applications for GMC Granite were abandoned as a result of The General not being able to provide the document.
The GM Authority Take
Four trademark applications spanning the course of a decade seems like sure-fire proof that General Motors has something tangible planned for the GMC Granite name. The original GMC Granite concept – pictured here – took on the form of subcompact hatchback that debuted in 2010. The show car was similar in size to the Scion xB, albeit in a much more masculine and attractive package.
From what we know, GMC is still contemplating bringing such a vehicle to market, though this time as a crossover, as per the CUV-hungry car-buying public.
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Comments
Great taste! I love it as is. However, there’s usually a stretch from a concept vehicle to a final product. The rear reminds me a VW Golf GTI a bit.
Sorry but this is an old show car that they tried to make production but could not due to the doors. They pretty much have moved on from this deal. Odds are we will see a GMC version of the Trailblazer.
They did have a sweet pick up version of this in a mock up with an expandable bed. But it was never something that was ready for production.
Thank you for your reply! I understand your message. However, I believe the point of the article is precusely that it looks as though GM doesn’t want to put the Granite project in the freezer for ever or they are reluctant to abandon the project. And I just hope you are wrong and the Granite model may have a future, and if so, that it doesn’t turn into a disappoinrment like another mouth watering GM project: the Avenir, which later came out as a dull model of the Buick Enclave SUV.
I get what you mean but the story is basically about that GMC has not given up on the name. They are not saying what it is being applied to.
Based on current platforms and working on a name now I do not see any radical products coming. I hope I am wrong but there is just nothing showing it would be more than another model on an existing platoform at this point.
The show car shown I have seen in person and it was far from production. They tried to make it witht he doors as shown but it would not meet the crash standards and not be very over weight. With out the doors it made it difficult to load items which was the point of the doors.
To that point I warn not to get your hopes up as it may just be another dull Buick Encore GMC version to slot under the Terrain.
Names are difficult to come up with and expensive to secure. GM often saves and uses names from show vehicles. The Fiero was first used in 1969 on a Firebird show car. It showed up later on the car that did reach market but then it was to have been proud in Italian when in 69 it was short for Firebird Aero Concept.
I know this is a ten year old design but I still like it–it has rugged truck-like looks. It resembles an enlarged Sonic. It also seems to be a CUV with the ride height of a sedan.
It was on a Sonic platform.
Correction: the Granite would have been on Delta (Cruze, Orlando, Verano)… not Gamma (Sonic, Onix, Prisma, etc.).
Would be wild if they pulled a rabbit out and it was a unibody pickup to slot under the next generation Canyon which will most likely grow in size.
Offer it with that new 1.3T from the Encore GX as a base engine
1.3T 155hp and 175lb-ft
2.0T 225hp 250lb-ft
And if it managed to tow 2,500lbs
Yes! A Ford Courier competitor.
I’m excited to see this project and the trailblazer project. I feel like this will probably share the same platform as the trailblazer?
I am desperately hoping that the new vss-f platform will underpin a new fwd hatchback in the b/c segment as well.
COMPLETE AND BIG SHOCKER: Its actually GM’s new EV Or it’s GMC’s answer to the Jeep Wrangler/Ferd Bronco.
There is absolutely no reason for GMC to enter the Subcompact hatchback market as Buick has had tremendous success with the Encore. Since, GMC and Buick dealerships usually are under the same roof it makes no sense to release a GMC subcompact unless the price completely underscores the Encore, in which still wouldn’t make sense because then no one would really try to buy the encore.
As they say “Put up or shut-up”. I don’t see GM taking any risk with a new off-road design. Another rebadged Encore GX/Trailblazer seems to be the only possibility. But an overpriced Encore with a CVT and 3 cylinder will not be a Jeep killer.
Wow, another Encore varient like Trailblazer. GM keeps cutting the pie into too many small pieces: Encore/Granite will be a similar as Envision/Terrain. Meanwhile a unique GMC aimed at Jeep would be a far smarter move for GM and open up a lane for a Lexus – fighting Buick.
Granite will be a waste of space beside Encore and Encore GX.
While GMC appears to like the name Granite; it just can’t seem to decide which vehicle in the GM CUV-universe to label and is reason why it continues to simply renew the trademark.. maybe a GMC Granite based on the very popular Chevrolet Equinox might make sense.
The reason I suspect is GMC wants a off rad vehicle or body on frame but GM wants a CUV.
Just watching the moves it looks like two groups want two different vehicles.
Note GMC has a Nox model called a Terrain already.
I could see a future with a 2.0t trailblazer and beefed up, more aggressive version badged for GMC. It’s kind of a future I wish they would pursue. And while they’re at it just drop that transverse 2.0t drivetrain right into the next gen b/c segment fwd.
I really don’t see the Trailblazer going that way. It’s not really an off road vehicle. It’s not designed to be that way.
Now I could see the Jimmy and K5 body on frame getting a second chance at some point depending on the market.
The problem is the basic CUV just sells in such greater numbers for GM. It makes it hard for them to take the risk on investment for an off toad package.
The ZR2 sells well but is only 15% of production.
The SUV needs a more global market and a full frame to be taken seriously.
Fun vehicles sell thrills but the boring vehicles make most of the money.
that’s what I meant. The trailblazer would be like a sporty crossover and the GMC badged version would have some different plastic cladding… maybe a little different stance.
I agree, my parents had a second gen blazer… the body on frame design in a utility vehicle that small doesn’t leave enough interior room for a growing family imo. If you want a frame on body SUV gotta spend the money for a Tahoe or Yukon. or another manufacturer.
Doesn’t Mack truck have the rights to Granite? They still build a model by that name.
J. G. Schulte
maybe it’s a different trademark because it is a passenger vehicle and Mack truck makes a commercial vehicle? Or maybe GM is going to buy Mack and just start adapting all their work trucks into CUVs… you heard it here first.
LOL. Mack truck is also Renault which markets the French heavy truck around the world. Mack is sold under that name in North America. Engines are almost identical, just a bit different to meet the specs for emissions in Europe and different specs for North America/Mexico. GM is blowing smoke about this name unless they pay off the parent company of Mack/Renault to use it only for light vehicles. I like the name and i’m sure GM has asked a polling company to see what the public thinks of the name. Just waiting to see who first markets condoms under the Granite name…..LOL.