For the second time, General Motors' application to trademark the name “Bolt” for its upcoming electric car is under suspension, Auto Guide reports.
GM unveiled the Bolt Concept during the 2015 North American International Auto Show, saying that it will have a driving range of roughly 200 miles and a price tag of around $30,000. But the Detroit automaker is running into problems as it tried to protect the name slated for use with the new small electric car.
Earlier this year, the US Patent and Trademark Office suspended GM’s application for the name because Yamaha already holds a trademark meant for motorcycles and their structural parts. The two companies reached an agreement that would allow GM to proceed were it not for the fact that Bolt Custom Trucks, a Fort Wayne, Ind.,-based company that builds custom sleeper cab for tractor trailers, applied to protect the same name before GM did.
According to timelines reported previously, GM should be targeting a launch for Bolt in roughly 16 months. Even if GM ends up pushing its timeline back, Bolt will still go to market with a significant head start over the Tesla Model III that is slated to sell for roughly the same price and offer comparable driving range.
A General Motors representative was not available for comment. Bolt Custom Trucks owner Brian Callan said over the phone that he was not aware of his company’s pending application standing in the way of General Motors’ ability to trademark the name.
