# Vehicle Branding **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 9, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749 "2008-05-09T23:00:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749/41 "2008-05-11T02:54:15Z")
I didn’t know till recently that there used to be entirely separate brand names (not just model names!) for some American cars sold in Canada. For instance, Mercurys in the 1950s were known there as [Monarchs](http://www.brewtowncruisers.com/CanadianMercurys.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749/42 "2008-05-11T03:03:19Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] I have never heard of a GM car having a VTEC engine. I’m pretty sure that was a Honda-only project. Prove me wrong and fight my ignorance. [/QUOTE] In checking Wiki, it wasn’t the VTEC, but I don’t see any mention of an engine partnership between them, either. However, I _did_ read something about the two of them developing an engine together. > [@Beware of Doug](#): > > I didn’t know till recently that there used to be entirely separate brand names (not just model names!) for some American cars sold in Canada. For instance, Mercurys in the 1950s were known there as Monarchs. Not just Canada, but Europe as well. GM owns Vauxhall in England and Opel in Germany. Both companies have their own unique models, but also sell rebranded GM cars. Ford, IIRC, does something similar in England and Germany. (Merkur is the German word for Mercury.) ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749/43 "2008-05-11T03:06:59Z")
And I just barely remember Vauxhalls being sold in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749/44 "2008-05-11T11:08:02Z")
Platform =! chassis When car makers say that two cars share the same platform all it means is basically that they have the same mounting points for engine, suspension, etc. so the same mechanical parts can be used. But the chassis can be entirely different. One car could be a big honking 7-seater SUV and the other a low two seater sports car. ---
**Author:** ![Caractacus\_Pott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@Caractacus\_Pott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caractacus_Pott)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749/45 "2008-05-11T12:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] Not just Canada, but Europe as well. GM owns Vauxhall in England and Opel in Germany. Both companies have their own unique models, but also sell rebranded GM cars. Ford, IIRC, does something similar in England and Germany. (Merkur is the German word for Mercury.) [/QUOTE] To take this digression further OT, GM is now selling Chevrolet models in England. They’re marketed separately from Vauxhalls. Wait! Here’s how I can bring this post back on topic: the Chevy’s here appear to be badge-engineered Korean models, like the Aveo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vehicle-branding/448749.md?page=2)