Buick Won't Have an EV in America Until Next Year
Buick’s EV ambitions haven’t been a secret. The automaker trademarked the iconic Electra name from its past and even teased its first EV last month, but we’re now learning that it will be a while before the vehicle lands on American soil.
A Buick Spokesperson told CarBuzz that the Electra E5’s debut next week will be a China-only affair and said that the company is “not showing or revealing any Buick EVs in the U.S. any time soon.” The rep went on to say that the first Buick EV for North America would debut in 2024. The move to release in China first isn’t that surprising, as the country accounts for a significant portion of the company’s sales volume. Buick sells something like five times the number of vehicles in China that it does in the United States, so it’s logical to focus resources on the massive country.
The Electra E5 rides on GM’s Ultium platform, which also underpins the Cadillac Lyriq and the upcoming Chevrolet Equinox EV. Buick will build the vehicle in China at its joint SAIC-GM facility in Wuhan, but it’s unlikely the automaker would produce American-bound EVs there because of tax credit rules.
Though we’ve seen the stunning Buick Wildcat EV Concept, it’s more likely that the company’s first domestically-available electric vehicle will be a much tamer crossover. It’s a safe bet and could lean on the bones of the new Chevy EVs without significant reengineering.
[Image: Buick]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Likely will be a Chinese made one which have a shocking propensity to catch fire.
I have heard this for years that Buick was saved 14 years ago because if they killed it here it would lose its "prestige" in China? Does anyone seriously believe this? What evidence is there?
who killed the Electric Car? same people who killed Saturn, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab, Opel, Terex, GMAC, AC Delco, Holden, and more.
"if management can't sell Pontiacs, you don't get rid of Pontiac, you get rid of management"
James Dollinger
Buickman
Founder
generalwatch.com
jdollinger.com
dollingerdifference.com
I could have saved them were it not for the planned self destruction. Delphi was the practice round. Red Ink Rick, with no accounting degree elevated, appointed to tear it down. then we got Danny's girl. what an embarrassment.
How about Buick setup a plantation near the plant for car building immigrants, the new slave class willing to work for minimum wage.
Make Buick great and American again !!