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UPDATE: Chevrolet Bolt EV Trademark Request Halted Due to Conflict With Yamaha

Launching a new car can be a both satisfying and daunting experience, as there are plenty of challenges ready to make the difference between failure and success. Chevrolet should know that very well, especially after the Bold trademark application process has been suspended.
Chevrolet Bolt 1 photo
Photo: Catalin Garmacea
Everyone was celebrating, and life was good for Chevrolet when Tim Mahoney confirmed the production version of their Bolt EV would have the same name as the prototype. But as we all know, life will refuse to be good on a daily basis, as it looks like Chevy can't used the Bolt name for their upcoming electric car.

The cause is not related to the car's mechanical aspect or due to technological setbacks but has rather legal ramifications, according to Green Car Reports.

In other words, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has suspended General Motors' application to register the Bold trademark because there's the possibility of confusion with another brand.

That 'another brand' is Yamaha. It looks like on Thursday, August 9, 2012, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for BOLT by Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha, Shizuoka-ke. The current federal status of the trademark is 'registered', and is has received the serial number 85699282.

Chevrolet started their actions towards trademarking the Bolt name in 2014, five years after Yamaha secured the Bolt brand. Furthermore, Yamaha is currently selling a motorcycle under the Bolt moniker, but through its sub-brand Star.

Until Chevy sorts this one out, let's take a moment and consider all those critics arguing the final production version previewed by the Bolt prototype should wear a different name. We have no doubt that the Bolt will happen, but we're also curious to find out what name will the $30,000 EV receive in the end. We're thinking about a name that will better reflect its 200-mile (322 km) range, maybe?

UPDATE: According to the USPTO website, General Motors filed two trademark requests for the 'Bolt EV' and 'Chevrolet Bolt EV' names on May 27, 2015, in an attempt to come up with clearer name alternatives.
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