General Motors' passenger vehicle joint venture with SAIC Motor Corp. has changed its name to SAIC General Motors (SAIC-GM for short).The partnership previously called itself Shanghai General Motors.The logo on new Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac models produced by the joint venture also will be changed beginning this month to SAIC-GM, reported Xinhua, an official Chinese news agency.According to Chinese media, SAIC requested the name change to promote its corporate image.Neither GM or SAIC has explained the name change, which took effect on July 1.SAIC-GM is a 50-50 partnership between GM and SAIC.Chinese media also reported that SAIC also has asked Volkswagen Group to change the name of their joint venture from Shanghai Volkswagen to SAIC Volkswagen. But Volkswagen turned down SAIC's request, citing high costs that the change would require.SAIC is the second Chinese automaker that has changed the names of its joint ventures with global brands.In 2009, Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. renamed its joint ventures with Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Corp. to Guangqi Toyota and Guangqi Honda. The partnerships were previously called Guangzhou Toyota and Guangzhou Honda.In Chinese, Guangqi is short for Guangzhou Automobile.