Chevrolet is in, Daewoo name is out in eastern Europe
Move could be first step toward change in all export markets
By Wim Oude Weernink
Automotive News Europe / September 22, 2003

Chevrolet's road map:
General Motors will drop the Daewoo nameplate at the end of this year in: Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey

FRANKFURT -- General Motors will replace the Daewoo brand name with the Chevrolet nameplate as the automaker enters new markets in central and eastern Europe.

Chevrolet may eventually replace Daewoo in western Europe as well.

The change will be made first in Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Turkey, starting at the end of this year, said Erhard Spranger, executive in charge at GM Daewoo Europe.

"The old Daewoo nameplate and the new GM Daewoo name does not differentiate enough," Spranger said. "So it is better to use the name Chevrolet in markets where Daewoo was not active before."

If Daewoo is already present in a market, the change will occur with the launch of new models, he added.

Daewoo vehicles have already been rebadged as Chevrolets in the Asia Pacific region and the USA.

In 2002, GM and GM affiliates acquired two-thirds of GM Daewoo, which was formed from many of the assets of the bankrupt Daewoo Motors.

The next market for GM Daewoo may be Russia, but the decision won't be made until next year, Spranger said.

"It is obvious that we may choose the name Chevrolet as well," he said.

Some new Lada models built by AvtoVAZ are already badged as Chevrolet in Russia.

Sources within GM Europe say that eventually the Daewoo name may disappear completely from export markets.

"It is a matter of time, but at least by 2010 that will happen," one source said. Spranger did not confirm that.

He said: "We should not draw any conclusion from what we do in eastern European markets for the time being."