China is still using an old system where car manufacturers need to file patents or take the risk of having their vehicles to be copied. News about the Chevrolet Volt coming into China next year with a Buick badge and not a Chrysler bowtie or an Opel is going around.
It just happens that General Motors filed a patent but submitted the one for Opel Amptera that is Voltec powered instead of the Chevy Volt’s. The Volt will also not be branded as Opel since it is not a well-known brand in China leaving Buick, the best brand of GM in China, as the wisest choice.
It makes perfect sense that the Ampera will be sold in China with a Buick badge since it has been the practice of the company to re-brand the Opel cars as Buicks when they reach the country.
The Astra of Opel is being sold as the Buick Excelle while the Insignia became the Buick Regal. Now, it might be a good question to ask what will be Ampera called when it gets to China? Will it be Buick Ampera?
The Buick Volt when it gets to China will be the 5th Voltec model joining the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, and the Ampera of Holden and Opel/Vauxhall. We just need to wait a bit for the Daewoo that will be powered by Voltec, too to complete the list. The units will be produced GM plant in Michigan initially.