Daewoo Europe to Join Chevy's World Wide Branding Efforts?

FRANKFURT, Aug 17, 2004; Reuters reported that General Motors plans to sell Daewoo cars in Europe with Chevrolet nameplates as part of its campaign to make Chevrolet a global brand, an industry source said on Tuesday. "Indeed GM is going to build Chevrolet into a worldwide brand," the source said, adding that part of the Daewoo product line would be marketed as Chevrolets in Europe, while South Korea's Daewoo would focus on its domestic market.

The source was confirming a report in German newspaper Handelsblatt, which said the switch would happen in 2005.

GM markets the Russian-built Niva offroader as a Chevrolet, and other models such as the Opel Meriva minivan built in South Africa would also join the fold, he said.

GM, the world's biggest carmaker, owns 42.1 percent of GM Daewoo Auto and Technology Co, while Suzuki Motor Corp owns 14.9 percent, Shanghai Automotives Industry Corp 10 percent and Daewoo creditors one third.

GM Daewoo sold 115,600 cars and light commercial vehicles in western Europe last year and another 16,700 in central Europe.

A GM Europe spokesman declined to comment on the report, other than to say: "We will make a big announcement in Paris", referring to the Paris Auto Show next month.