We’ve heard it before, as it seems that Buick and parent company General Motors are sticking to the decision on importing the 2016 Buick Envision from China when it is ready for U.S. consumption.
The news surfaces previously during UAW contract negotiations, causing the UAW to become “alarmed” at the decision to import the 2016 Envision crossover to the U.S.
Cindy Estrada, Vice President of the UAW’s GM department, voiced her distaste in the possible decision.
“After the sacrifices made by U.S. taxpayers and the U.S. workforce to make General Motors the profitable quality company it is today, UAW members are disappointed with the tone-deaf speculation that the Envision would be imported from China,” Estrada said in August. “GM should stand by its declaration that it will build where it sells.”
The Detroit Free Press reports that Buick is still on track to import the 2016 Envision to the United States from a plant in the Shandong province in China. Buick declined to comment on future product rumors, but did previously state that it only planned to import 30,000 to 40,000 units per year if it came to it.
Moving opposite to market trends.
With four model years recommended for purchase.
This example is a former NCRS award winner.
Many automakers oppose right-to-repair laws citing cybersecurity concerns.
Breaking out the spec sheets for a comparison.
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Lame
Excellent!
Looking forward to Asian version of
"That's not a Buick!" commercial asap!
Please have it on my desk Sunday for possible Super Bowl spot. Just make sure you include a lease offer.
That's how we roll! Have a good weekend!
Little did we know 'CUV' will soon stand for 'Chinese Utility Vehicle.'
Possibly the Chinese can bail them out if they run into problems in the future?
They'll do what they did with the Regal and Encore. They'll import them for a MY or two, then once our plants/factories are converted they'll build them on NA shores. It's smart financials.
An astute comment Jonny. The Envision is based on the same platform as the new Equinox, Terrain and the Cruze. When those vehicles are tooled and launched in North America the Envision will follow. Likely in a couple of years. In the meantime, to get a jump on sales they'll import the Envision from the one plant in the world that makes it, in China. I'm understanding the vehicle will be here in March 2016 not 2H.
That's "the understanding" with the UAW and the reason they are not raising a big fuss.
It doesn't make sense to run two factories at half capacity. Gm is building a large amount of vehicles here, and will grow the numbers. But if China, which is buicks largest market, can build for both, then it just makes financial sense. Same as Opel building Holdens and exporting to Australia.
mom-mobile
Companies are supposed to make money for the shareholders not for the union execs. GM needs to do what is beneficial financially, not to mention the poor quality that comes out of the NA factories.
What are you even trying to communicate.
Poor quality that comes out of the NA factories?
BTW so if someone is non-union that guarantees good work?? many of the union GM worker take pride in their job.
sounds like you been brainwashed buddy.
I've had three Enclaves so far, all made in the USA, and all have been great, reliable vehicles. Some hiccups, for sure, but generally well made.
If GM brings it to North America, don't buy it.
Simple like this. Just don't buy it. Problem solved.
There are just so many reasons that this is a mistake . However GM is doing so much business in China that this is going to become a reality . If GM thinks they can sell 40,000 units here thats what they will do . And they will sell , there are enough people out there that don't care where a vehicle is built . But I can tell you that you will not see one parked in a UAW factories parking lot . And if one does I feel sorry for the person that had the guts to park one there .
I don't want to go Geo-Political here , I just think that it would be a bad move on GM's part.
Build Buick in America.. I will NEVER buy a Chinese car. EVER!
Come on guys, its a global industry. More cars will be built in china and then sold here, so we may as well get over it.
What bothers me is how long it has taken GM to bring this model here. By the time i goes on sale it will have been two years since it first went on sale in China. Sure, you can argue that the manufacturing/labor controversy may have delayed thing, but those issues have come into focus in the last few months. In my mind GM should have sorted out these labor issues from the moment this car was introduced, so it could be imported ASAP. How stupid can GM be? They see that the crossover market is booming and that there is this one gaping hole in their lineup and it takes them forever to come up with a decision on whether to import it or not. As things stand, I still don't think they have officially confirmed that it is coming. The same thing is going on with the Avenir concept. All of us who follow the industry know that producing the vehicle is a no-brainer because it will be profitable in China, but GM still hasn't made a decision. Quick decision making is not good, but slow decision making is also a disaster. I think that the Envision is a perfect example of why GM has not been fixed. Are they making superb products? Absolutely. However, as an overall company there are far off from where Ford is. There are still many things about GM that have to be fixed, from the business side of things, and that may prove to be a harder task than it was for Bob Lutz to change the product culture at GM.