General Motors has submitted a fresh trademark filing for the GMC Granite nameplate. First presented in concept form (pictured) more than five years ago, the Granite was presented as a subcompact SUV and later as a diminutive pickup with side-access load doors.
Production rumors have surfaced several times in the past few years. GM North America president Mark Reuss added to the speculation in 2013 when he hinted at production plans for an “innovative portfolio entry” for GMC, with a new car-like model to slot below the Terrain.
Such an offering may have become a higher priority amid the ongoing success of the Buick Encore, which is the only Buick nameplate to achieve positive sales gains in the first five months of this year. The Encore’s growth does not appear to have been significantly slowed by the arrival of its Chevrolet-badged stablemate, the Trax, which reached slightly higher sales numbers in May.
If the Granite makes it to production, it is unclear if the form will maintain the C-segment build of the original concept. A slightly larger version, potentially a rebadged version of the Encore, may be more likely to appear.