Added on February 19, 2019  The News Wheel   ,
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Buick Looking to Add Chinese Vehicles to Dwindling American Lineup

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With the elimination of both the LaCrosse and Cadcada, Buick will need new vehicles to help it compete against rival automotive brands

2017 Buick Advertising
Buick will need some new vehicles if it hopes to stand out among the automotive crowd
Photo: Buick

Buick recently announced that it would eliminate the Cascada from its lineup after the 2019 model year. With both the Cascada and LaCrosse discontinued, that leaves Buick with a lineup of four vehicles (five if you count the Regal Sportback and Regal TourX as separate models).

Three crossovers and a sedan do not an automotive brand make, so Buick is reportedly looking to bring over vehicles from its Chinese lineup.

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This idea would not be an unfamiliar one. The Buick Envision is a recent transfer from Buick’s Chinese operations. That vehicle is assembled at the SAIC GM Dong Yue Foundry.

Other model options from the Buick Chinese lineup include the Excelle sedan and the GL8. The Verano is also sold in China, although Buick is unlikely to bring it over to the states after it recently discontinued the model here.

“Buick is a big, big player in China. There’s no doubt that’s going to be true for a long time to come,” Phil Brook, vice president of Buick and GMC marketing, told Automotive News.

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Buick previously brought over vehicles from its Opel brand in Europe, with the Opel Cascada becoming the Buick Cascada and the Opel Insignia becoming the Buick Regal. However, after selling both Opel and Vauxhall to Groupe PSA, that is no longer a viable option for Buick.

Chinese mandates and incentives make the development of Buick EVs in the country an inevitable outcome. Bringing those Buick EVs stateside could certainly help with GM’s electrification efforts, while also building up the Buick brand. Whatever Buick decides to do, an immediate course of action will be necessary if Buick wishes to stand out among rival luxury automakers in the future.  

News Source: Automotive News (subscription required)