For reasons best known to themselves, automakers routinely sell the same or similar cars under different names (badges) in different markets. This was the case with the first-generation Chevrolet Volt – a cosmetically different version was sold in Continental Europe as the Opel Ampera, in the UK as the Vauxhall Ampera, and as the Holden Volt in Australia (confusingly, the Chevy Volt was sold in some of these markets as well).

Now GM has announced that it will follow the same strategy with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV.

Speaking at the CAR Symposium in Bochum, Germany, GM CEO Mary Barra said that the Bolt will be offered in Europe as the Opel Ampera-E. As told by Green Car Reports, she presented a few pictures, but no details about differences between the two badges.

There was also no word on whether and when a right-hand-drive Bolt will be offered for the UK and other lefty markets (British EV fans got their knickers in a twist last September when anonymous sources said that there would be no right-hand drive version).

The Bolt EV is to begin production later this year at GM’s Orion Assembly plant in Michigan.

Meanwhile, Australian auto mag CarAdvice reported that a partially-camouflaged second-gen Volt has been spotted being tested in Europe, and speculated that this may be the next Opel/Vauxhall/Holden version of GM’s EREV.

Source: Green Car Reports