GM likes the name Cobalt

Chevrolet's next small car — wherever it's built — "more than likely" will retain the Cobalt name, a senior official said.

General Motors Corp. is "being judicious" about changing model names because of the cost, said Mike Jackson, GM's vice president of vehicle marketing and advertising. GM saw that when it dropped the Cavalier name on its Chevrolet compact in favor of Cobalt.

"The name is fine," said Jackson, who met with media this morning at the Holiday Inn in Boardman.

Jackson, a Youngstown native, said he couldn't address where the next Chevrolet small car will be built. GM has scheduled production of the Cobalt at its Lordstown complex through June 2009. Union leaders and plant management are negotiating a new labor contract that they hope will persuade GM to keep the plant open.