5 Chevy Models That Have Different Names Overseas
Across all GM brands, model names vary widely and sometimes follow specific themes. Chevy has the longest running nameplate, the Suburban, while Buick has its collection of ‘E’ names with the Encore, Envision, and Enclave. GMC takes a more natural approach with names like Acadia, Sierra, and Terrain. But outside of the U.S., some of these names don’t make much sense. In countries like India and China, some Chevy models go by very different names; here are a few of those unique nameplates.
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Chevrolet Colorado
The Colorado first made its debut in North America in 2003, but its roots technically date back to 1981 when it was introduced as the 1982 Chevrolet S-10. (In the same model year, the GMC version was referred to as the S-15 but was later renamed the Sonoma.) While the S series truck was replaced by the stately Colorado name in the U.S., the S-10 name held strong in other countries like Thailand and Brazil.
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevy Volt has had not one, but two other names during its short existence. Originally introduced in 2010, the Volt nameplate was reserved solely for the United States. However, the EV went by the Opel Ampera in Europe until it was unfortunately discontinued. But in China, the electric sedan was an exciting introduction in 2017, where it was named the Buick Velite 5. Yep — a totally different brand, but still under the GM family tree.
Chevrolet Bolt
Learning from the life (and eventual death) of the Volt, Chevrolet introduced the Bolt, an all-electric hatchback in early 2016. In America, the sporty EV was met with mild enthusiasm but that intrigue grew exponentially at the end of 2017 when sales increased dramatically. In Norway, the Bolt is known as the Opel Ampera-e, similar to the Volt and its name in Europe. No word on whether China will turn this one into a Buick, too.
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Chevrolet Spark
The itty bitty Chevy Spark originally debuted as the Daewoo Matiz in 1998, which is now known as GM Korea. After GM took over, the five-door hatchback started becoming more well-known under the Chevrolet badge as the Spark. In Pakistan, it was originally called the Exclusive in 2003, then the Joy from 2005-2009, and is now the Spark. It was rebadged for Opel in Europe as the Karl and the Vauxhall Viva in the United Kingdom. India kept the Chevrolet badge but refers to the tiny car as the Beat, instead.
Chevrolet Trax
Introduced in 2012 as a concept at the Paris Motor Show, the Chevy Trax first made it to the production line as a 2013 model. Quite possibly one of the smallest crossovers on the market, maybe the same size as the Buick Encore, the Trax was a perfect option for those in the city who wanted to haul some stuff around. In Australia and the Oceania market — which includes Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia, and Australasia — the Trax is known as the Holden Trax instead of Chevrolet. Keeping the Chevrolet badge, the sporty SUV is known as the Tracker in South America and Russia.
These are just five of Chevrolet’s models and what they’re referred to in countries around the world. Do you know of any other vehicles that go by different names? What are your favorites or the weirdest ones you know? Let us know!
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