New trademark filing revives "Panther" name, hinting at a possible Camaro successor or new electric performance vehicle.
General Motors has filed a trademark for the name “Panther” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, igniting fresh speculation about what could follow in the wake of the Camaro’s discontinuation in late 2023.
The name “Panther” has deep roots within GM—it was the original internal codename for the Camaro during its 1960s development—and recently resurfaced in the branding for the 2024 Camaro Collector’s Edition, particularly with the special Panther Black Matte finish.
While many enthusiasts are hoping this signals a Camaro revival, insiders and analysts caution that such a move is unlikely. Camaro sales have sharply declined in recent years, with just 6,000 units sold in its final model year, a far cry from the 70,000 peak in 2016. The model officially exited production in December 2023, and Chevrolet has indicated there’s no current business case for a traditional pony car replacement.
That said, the "Panther" name could still see action in another form. Speculation has centered around a smaller, more affordable sports car, potentially aimed at the same segment as the Toyota GR86 or Mazda MX-5 Miata. Such a car would be less costly to develop and could attract younger buyers, but would also offer thinner margins unless GM partnered with another automaker to share development costs.
Others suggest the "Panther" may serve as the badge for a future electric crossover, similar to how Ford repurposed the Mustang name for the Mach-E. GM had previously explored the idea of an electric Camaro sedan, and "Panther" could be a more flexible nameplate for a new performance-oriented EV—one that avoids direct comparisons to the legacy of the Camaro.
Notably, GM has filed other trademarks in recent years—including for the Pontiac name—without acting on them. This latest filing may be simply a protective legal move. Still, the timing and historical significance of “Panther” are enough to fuel speculation about GM’s next move in the performance market, whether internal combustion or electric.
For now, the mystery remains, but one thing is clear: Panther isn’t just a name—it’s a signal, and enthusiasts are watching closely.
