Not to be outdone by Ford Motor Company’s Bay Area bikeshare program, General Motors has unveiled two new, two-wheeled vehicles that are sure to get any Camaro ZL1 owner’s pulse racing. We’ve poked fun at the Blue Oval’s non-car efforts of late, but entering the pedal-powered field is serious stuff for companies — stagnating new vehicles sales calls for a myriad of alternative revenue solutions. Just wait till Fiat Chrysler launches a RAMbike.
At least with GM’s latest mobility effort, a motor comes attached. What isn’t attached, however, is a brand name. GM needs help with that.
Your help. The two e-bikes, one folding, the other fixed, will be marketed under a yet-to-be-decided e-bike brand name sourced from the public. General Motors Urban Mobility Solutions is offering the winner $10,000, with a grand apiece going to the nine runner-up entries. Clever marketing types with a knack for naming have until November 26th to offer up a moniker, with their choices judged against a fairly lengthy list of criteria.
Reading through the list, it seems unlikely GM would choose this author’s preferred brand name, and it’s fairly certain we won’t see the Oldsmobile brand re-emerge in the most unlikely of forms. Wouldn’t that be something.
Interested in learning more about your next GM vehicle? There isn’t much to go on. Weight, dimensions, and electric range are not mentioned, leaving urban Chevy Sonic lessees on the cusp of trade-in time wanting more. I’ll admit to finding the folding model intriguing, as I’m pretty sure I could easily fit a couple of those things in my car’s trunk.
[Images: General Motors]
Anything but Oldsmobile.
I’d say Saturn, sounds new age enough for the task.
Saturn would work, but these things look more like a diver going into water… I’d suggest Neptune.
It does look like someone in the middle of a somersault.
The shape is somewhat remindful of the Impala emblem. Any reason they cant call it Impala?
Anyway, it looks good, and I like that the motor is on the crank, not in a wheel.
Has the patent on “Locomobile” expired yet?
Stingray! It’s a mid-engine (motor), right?
https://bikehistory.org/bikes/stingray/
General Moped.
The Shaker, from 50 year-old Pontiac GTO hoods. Without suspension and tiny wheels, it’ll shake the blubber on a big ‘un pedalling/motoring across sidewalk paving block joins and off the curb. Oomph!
No doubt this bike will be made by American labor in American factories? Yes? And where’s the smartphone rest/charging pad? The main battery should be up to that chore without costing much range.
Or just call it Inchworm. Because that’s what it reminded me of first. Ewww.
Forget this modern stuff, they should go classic:
https://i2.wp.com/autochunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Robert-Egger-Cadillac-bicycle-3.jpg?ssl=1
https://i0.wp.com/autochunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Robert-Egger-Cadillac-bicycle-1.jpg?fit=550%2C372&ssl=1
Given the way people drive now, as discussed in today’s earlier article, it might certainly fit the spirit of the old excitment division! Though probably not in the way GM would be thinking.
Put some crosses in your spokes GM.
You can send just $5K to me at:
David Sundby
1724 Constitution Ct.
80526
thank you and good luck
for a name how about the Detroit Riot
Assuming they still own the rights, they should call it GEO.
By the way I thought Geo Storm was a great sports car name but on an awful and powerless car…
“Old Solution for Mobility” or OldsMobility?
And how about “Oakland” since it is Bay Area?
How about “Chevette Roadkill Express”? They could call it the CRE for short.
GM has already screwed up the Saturn brand, and Neptune sounds better for watercraft. But considering the typical comfort level of bike seats — Uranus!
“Worthless” as in resources.
EV1!
It’s electric (EV). Seats 1.
Perfect
No one mentioned that GM ALREADY SELLS BIKES??
I own a GMC Denali Bike. This one right here:
https://www.amazon.com/GMC-92706-Denali-Road-Bike/dp/B002GNWPK2
Its not terrible for the price… but yes that the real GMC and its Denali branded… I enjoy telling everyone I have a GMC Denali.
With that being said, I don’t think this is a totally new world for them. I bought this like 10 years ago and they still sell ’em. They have a bunch of different bikes all undeer the GMC Denali name.