The Next Buick Regal May Be Built In Germany
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As Buick continues to evolve from the car for dentists to the car for grandpa and now the car for Generation X, it seems the brand will continue to evolve with more European DNA than before. Automotive News says that the next-gen Buick Regal may be built in Germany.
Since debuting in 2010, the Regal has been the most European-inspired vehicle in the Buick lineup. Built jointly at Oshawa, Ontario with the Cadillac XTS, and Chevrolet Camaro and Impala, the Regal is scheduled to be redesigned for 2017. General Motors has already indicated that that production of the next-gen 2016 Camaro (expected to begin in 12-18 months) will move to Lansing, Mich., and the Impala will move to Hamtramck, Mich. The XTS? It’s possible the model will not survive once Cadillac builds its rumored high-class saloon.
Since the current Regal is already based on the Opel Insignia, it’s only natural to assume that the next-gen Regal may be built in Russelsheim, Germany. And then there’s this statement from Opel in March: “The Russelsheim plant has been chosen for the assembly of a future model which will be sold in the U.S. under the Buick brand name.”
When approached by AN, an Opel spokesperson declined to comment.
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Goodbye Oshawa, one of GM’s finest quality assembly plants.
Well there are a lot of reasons this could be happening.
The Volume of the Regal could be more profitable built on the similar Opel.
It could be to help bring profit to the Opel factory if it is under capacity.
Could be there is no other line ready to accept this car here and could be a one year deal like the first year of this model.
Could be to put more pressure on the Canadian union to be more competitive with other plants. The American UAW has been more agreeable since GM has been farming the new models around to who ever is the most competitive.
Could be a lot of reasons but most come down to profits and production space.
If the Impala is moving to Hamtramck Assembly and the XTS is being discontinued, is the LaCrosse following its platform mate to Hamtramck? Also, it seems to make sense that the next-generation Regal will be built in Germany, although (as others have stated), this could be a Regal Wagon. I truly am excited for Buick as they move new product into their lineup. I do hope to see:
Verano Sedan and Hatch
Cascada Convertible
Regal Sedan, Coupe, and Wagon
LaCrosse Sedan
Encore Sub-Compact CUV
Envision CUV
Meriva MPV
Enclave Mid-Size CUV
At least Zafira is very unlikely as the next generation will be based on a PSA platfrom and be built by PSA, so it will surely not fulfill American requirements.
Buick does need an MPV and a luxurious one at that. I think that they’d be very successful here in The U.S. The Meriva would make for a great canvas to improve on. Stick a 1.5t I4 (VVT, SIDI, IVVL, and VTM) with 180HP and 190-205LB-FT matched to a 7-Speed DCT with Stop/Start and Active Grille Shutters. I’d estimate at least 28 City and 39 Highway with FWD..
I wouldn’t deny that Buick needs such a car but it will not get one in the near future…also the next Meriva will be developed with PSA, so not be able to be offered in the US.
I would rather like to see the Meriva and Zafira to stay an Opel(Buick)-only product but sales are too low to develop such a car alone.
The first batch of ~46’000 Regals was built in the Opel factory in Rüsselsheim, Germany.
What is the sales volume of Buick Regal per year outside of China?
I think that the new Buick model to be assembled by Opel in Rüsselsheim is rather a Regal station wagon (“Sports Tourer”) than the basic Regal sedan.
The European sales volume for the Insignia (excluding US and China) is circa 100,000 units p/a, of which the UK (Vauxhall) alone accounts for 40+%.
Really! The new generation Impala is moving to Hamtramck? Thats news to us here in Oshawa! If you guys have a time-line for this can you provide the information.
The new impala is built at Detroit hamtramck and Oshawa.
I think it’s already being produced there and the plant probably has excess capacity given that Opel has discontinued the Ampera due to disappointing sales results.
I was always under the impression that the Oshawa plant was always going to build the Impala, its always been built there and the Oshawa plant is one of GMs crown jewels ( one of them at least) Im sure if all these models that are rumoured to be leaving then GM would replace them with other models, how can they shut a top notch plant like that?
When the C$ was around US$0.70, the CAW got huge wage boosts through COLA etc. Now that the C$ is around US$ 0.91, Canadian labor is overpriced versus the UAW . Since the CAW broke away from the UAW they aren’t even part of the same brotherhood anymore and they would be more than happy to take the jobs back — and GM to give them if it saves them a bunch of money.
Any word on the Encore when (or if) GM plans on having it assembled in the USA?
Oshawa Assembly would make a great plant for the Encore and Trax if that’s what it comes to.
next insignia lambo doors ihiiii
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq2Uyvs-HFk