cardan
Member
Not true.I read a story that the Chevy Nova failed to sell well when it was introduced in South America because “no va” in Spanish means “it doesn’t go.”
The Chevy Nova didn't fail because of the name "Nova". Everyone in Latin America, particularly in Colombia knew Nova meant "New" (from Latin). "No va" was more of a joke, not more than that.
The Chevy Nova failed in South America not because of the name "Nova" but because at that time (70's and early 80's) for years Renault (French car manufacturer) had been selling great little cars (Renault 4, 6, 9, 12 and others) with good ground clearance and at a very affordable price, most cheaper than the Chevy Nova. Chevrolet was not a strong brand there during those years.
Renault parts were easy to get and just about any mechanic knew how to repair Renaults. Fiat, Simca and even Mazdas were very popular during the 70's and 80's too. Competition was tough for Chevy.
I lived there during that time.
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