General Motors threatens over Chinese Chery move

General Motors has threatened legal action if the U.S. importers of a Chinese car called the Chery tries to use that brand name in the United States.

GM claims that the name is too close to the Chevy nickname it has sold its Chevrolet make under for 93 years.

Visionary Vehicles plans to begin selling the Chinese-made Chery in the U.S. in 2007.

Malcolm Bricklin of Visionary has said he does plan to use the Chery brand name in the U.S. and is prepared to challenge GM on the issue, but he also said he is putting together a list of alternate brand names as well.

In a letter sent to Bricklin last month, GM said they would challenge the application to register the Chery name in the U.S. and would try to prevent the importation, sale, or use of the name on the car or any parts and accessories associated with it.

GM is already embroiled in legal action in China over the QQ, a car that GM claims is a rip-off of the Daewoo Matiz, which is sold in China under the Chevrolet name.

GM is especially anxious to prevent use of the Chery name as it is attempting to make Chevy a global brand.

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