General Motors is planning to import the 2016 Buick Envision from China to sell in North America early next year. The decision has stirred up all kinds of scorn, contempt, and generally negative feelings towards GM, Buick, and the new compact luxury crossover itself. But there are what we believe to be vital elements have been lost in all the hoopla and fuss surrounding the topic.
1. A Vital Vehicle In A Growing Segment
Americans are going crazy for crossovers, at least for now. Consumers want them and automakers can’t make enough of them. Just in November 2015, crossover sales grew 35 percent at Chevrolet, 11 percent at Buick, 12 percent at GMC, and 53 percent at Cadillac. The figures are in line with those of the industry, but are actually quite impressive given that all of GM’s crossovers are aging or, simply put, old and about to get replaced.
By contrast, the 2016 Buick Envision is all-new. It was developed in the U.S. for global markets and it’s an all-new vehicle that’s modern, unlike the rest of GM’s CUVs. More importantly, the compact-sized Envision lands in the hottest-selling crossover segment. It’s not too big (Encalve), it’s not too small (Encore), and it appears to have just the right combination of luxury, attractive design, high technology, convenience, and value to be the first pick of many who cross-shop it with the Lexus NX, Acura RDX, Volvo XC60, and Audi Q5, among others.
So yes, the 2016 Buick Envision is a vital vehicle for Buick in terms of sales volume and brand image. After all, the brand has been starved of new product since 2013. So if anything, GM should have begun importing it last year to further capitalize on the crossover boom.
2. Shit Has (Not Yet) Hit The Fan
Most have not yet learned that Buick will import the Envision from China. But when they do, expect even more backlash, derision and scorn. The bailout monkeys will come out to play; they will probably make posters to parade in front of Buick dealers and GM’s Ren Cen; there will be cutesy Facebook and Instagram meme-like images ridiculing the Chinese-made Envision.
Heck, we’ll give the crowd a freebie right now: “Envision: The People’s Buick” can be printed on a photo of the Envision alongside the Chinese flag. Photoshoppers, feel free to go to town.
But will it all ultimately matter? Will it impact Buick’s reputation, or public mindshare, or the sales performance of the Envision? Time will tell. But let’s not forget that the Encore (a sales champion) is still imported from South Korea.
3. Import Volumes Will Be Limited
It’s very likely that only 30,00-40,000 units of the Envision will be imported per year. By comparison, Chinese consumers have purchased close to 130,000 Envisions since the model’s launch last fall. In the U.S. market, not a single Buick vehicle reached even half that sales volume in 2014, with the Enclave’s 62,300 sales being the highest for the brand.
3. It’s Not The First Time
It’s not the first time that Buick has imported a vehicle from overseas. When it launched in 2011, the current generation Buick Regal was imported from Germany until GM had enough time to set up production at its Oshawa facility in Ontario, Canada. Import volumes were very similar to the ones expected of the 2016 Buick Envision. Ironically, very few voiced any issues with importing a midsize sedan with a heralded, purely American nameplate, from Europe.
Be that as it may, the Envision has been developed in the U.S. and will be assembled to GM’s global manufacturing and quality standards wherever it’s produced, be that in China, Korea, Australia, South Africa, Thailand, Canada, Mexico, or the United States. Manufacturing operations and quality are both global games.
4. It Could Be Temporary
And that brings us to the possibility that the Buick Envision rides on GM’s new D2XX platform. This same architecture will underpin the next generation Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, among other vehicles. But as it happens, GM plants in North American haven’t yet been equipped to build a D2XX crossover just yet.
When that happens, we expect that Envision production will move to North America, probably to the Ingersoll plant in Canada, which will get updated in about a year to build D2XX-based CUVs.
Until that happens, Buick will (most likely) sell every single unit of the 2016 Buick Envision it imports from China, thereby attracting new customers to the brand, increasing sales volume, market share, and profitability.
5. It’s Not “The Start” Of China-Assembled Buicks
“This is the start of GM making all Buicks in China”.
We have seen comments like this one all over the web since last week’s announcement. Besides the fact that there is no evidence to support this theory, it’s worth mentioning that the all-new, 2017 Buick LaCrosse will be built in Michigan. It just so happens that there is an advantage of getting the Envision to market as quickly as possible, and that means importing from China for the short term.
“We have production already going (in China) and adding a second manufacturing facility for the volumes that we would expect in the U.S. just wasn’t feasible,” Buick spokesman Stuart Fowle told The Detroit News. “We wanted to take advantage of the manufacturing already in place.”
Comments
Is there going to be a 4th Buick CUV?
There might be:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/11/analysis-where-would-the-rumored-buick-enspire-fit-in-the-buick-crossover-lineup/
Hello Alex Luft! Long time no see! What are you up to these times?
Im not gonna buy a American branded car made by damn commies.
Gee, I hope that you don’t own any Apple products that are assembled by Commies. Or reams of other products assembled by Commies either.
I still don’t trust them building anything no matter what it is because they are commies and the sad thing is this is an AMERICAN car company that has always been in America importing a damn car from China and why don’t we just make everything in China now days!
I like communism. It’s China’s war plans and militarily build up that bothers me.
You would probably also rather kill yourself then let your life being saved by a doctor trained in Cuba, or even a Cuban doctor in person.
Get a life, man, and drop that ideological crap!
What does a doctor have to do with a product specifically automobiles I don’t want to buy something that will break after a day I buy it that’s why I hate things being made in China because everything made from there breaks.
Your motivated purely by ideology, not to say the anger that the USA could not conquer China in the previous world war. All the more you must be incensed by the Cubans who have taken over Cuba for themselves.
Get some fresh air, and get a life instead of shrinking yourself by ideology.
“Everything made in China breaks” — depends when. Nothing is permanent, and nothing works for eternity.
What about your iPhone or any other electronic gadget?
The thing is Americans are losing job opportunities when a company does this and I believe that job opportunities in America is important too many things are made in China these days that’s why I hate it.
If you paid attention to other articles on this website, you would notice that GM has invested over 7 Billion dollars in its factories in Michigan, so there will be plenty of jobs for GM employees here in the United States. As far as Quality is concerned, Buick will be supervising the Chinese workers, so I assume that we can expect the same Quality, that Buick has here in the States and definitely better than Cadillac… lol Finally what about all the Buicks sold in China are their workers complaining about all the jobs lost to America???
funny people. get over and grow up………………………………
Volvo – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo
Tõlgi see lehtFor the separate manufacturer of passenger vehicles, see Volvo Cars. …. Ford sold the Volvo Car Corporation in 2010 to Geely Automobile of China for $1.8 …
Volvo Cars – Volvo Trucks – Mack Trucks – Renault Trucks
Volvo to be first automaker to export Chinese cars to U.S. …
money.cnn.com/2015/01/12/…/volvo-china-exports-to-us/
– Chinese-owned Volvo says it plans to sell the S60 Inscription sedan, built at a plant in China, in the United States.
Look, if you don’t see the difference between importing a car from Korea, like the Encore, or Germany, like my first Regal, and importing a car from the US’s chief ideological and economic rival, then I don’t know what to tell you. My wife’s next car was going to be an Envision, but not if it’s from China.
That leaves the Equinox replacement to compete with every other car maker. I don’t know who wins in that decision, but I’ve already quit using my GM card just in case.
Chief ideological and economic rival.
That right there is your problem. Take politics out of it and it’s a car built in another country. Put U.S. political propaganda back into it, and you’ll get your statement above.
PS: the Chinese have and had no problem buying American-made goods (like Cadillacs). And most don’t let politics dictate their outlook on products.
I can’t upvote that enough.
This is an economic issue not political.
Some will not buy these models if they come from China but yet they are the same people who will not buy them if they are made here and cost $8,000 – $10,0000 more.
The fact is China has made themselves relevant on our watch. The fact is like it or not we have to learn to deal with them and work around them in what ever way we can. We have like in many areas lost the advantage.
Companies need volume, sales and profits to survive. They make no money they get no investors and they go out of business.
China opened the door to the largest consumer market in the world and even with restrictions it is something that can not be ignored by any automaker that plans to remain in business into the future if they are of any great size.
What is even sadder is many who are complaining about China are the same people who voted in the people in Washington that have added to out debt to them in record numbers over the last few years.
It is sad how so many do not understand the basic economics of today or even the history of our past to learn how we used to be.
Today we have had several generations that have had it so easy they think all this is just handed down to them when they really need to pick it up and work for it.
The foolishness of all this Buick nonsense. Where are all those who are upset the convertible is from Poland?
Ford has moved to the point the Mustang and the Conti will be the only American cars they will build here. FCA is moving many things out. The latest jeep is from Italy and the future Wrangler will be moved out of Toledo possibly out of country. Many of Chryslers other cars may face similar moves.
The last UAW contract has made them move to take many plants off line here and the UAW officals agreed to it knowing it was going to happen. They have sent these jobs away to get more money for the people they have left. Not a smart deal.
If you want to get ahead in life it is not by doing the same thing you do not and asking for more money, Today you need to improve your skills or education and reach higher in the job market. Some just refuse to do this as it is not easy.
But to keep getting more money for putting a screw in a door is just leading us in the circle of failure. Higher pay reaches for higher prices and we all end up back where we started.
If you really believe that all they do is put a “screw in the door” … then you haven’t been to an auto plant.
Simon I have been on the line very recently at Lordstown and I have work lines in production before. too. These are generally not a highly trained job anymore like it used to be. Many of these things re all point and shoot.
Machines are preset to torque things to predetermined levels etc.
The real skill is left to those who have to trouble shoot the cares with issues at the end of the line and for those who deal with the programming and set up of the line.
Assembling a car for most ain’t rocket science. That is part of the problem for many American workers as many of their jobs have been reduced to the point to where any third world country with uneducated workers can put things together just as well as we can now do to technology.
The real skill is in the software people and many of them are not from here either.
Simon don’t try to make it more than it is.
Also I am not downing the workers but building a car is not as skilled as it used to be when things had to be fabricated and welded by hand. Today most of it is go no go and not much unlike the order register at Mc Donald’s.
People today lack skills and part of it is because they were replaced by a machine or because they had to be assisted because they lack the skills. A few are still skilled but no where like it was.
Note there are still a few skilled people but no where like it was.
I don’t care that the Cascada is built in Poland because the Polish aren’t communist, their government doesn’t own 51% of the factory, they don’t have excessive tariffs on cars imported from our country, they treat their people fair, have tougher environmental laws, and don’t have a reputation for producing junk. We’re not just talking about another foreign country here, this is China. Besides, I’m surprised how many negative comments I hear about the Chevy SS (or Pontiac G8/GTO) for coming from Austrailia, or the German made Regals. This is going to be huge negative PR for Buick and GM when it goes live. Go check out Buick’s Facebook page now to see the hate already.
but hunday is so popular ahhhhhaaaa. who dont by they dont buy who fukka cares
china build many other famous car brands all car makers china to who build cars there.
China will be a very wide range of different car manufacturers machines. as well as in Russia, and yet in many places. open your eyes. as kindergarten. Car manufacturers are still actually very strict requirements and rules. where the difference is not produced today. in some places it is more profitable to produce than the second.
sick people.China, the world’s auto manufacturers produce almost all of its products
#1 agree Buick needs a SUV in this segment. CUV and SUV sales out pace all sedans anymore.
#2 To be honest most people will never know and most will not care. For all the imports purchased in this country most people have shown they do not car. Hell most people can not even name the Vice President let alone know here a Buick is made.
#3 GM stated clearly that we should expect limited numbers even before they spoke of China. 35,000 was what I was told and that sounds about right.
#3 True. this will become even more common as GM and with Buick being so global. Honda, Toyota and others have done this for years. We already have a Buick from Poland now too in the convertible. Keep in mind some of the American models will also be exported and even become Holden’s and Opel’s in the future. We have many new models coming and you will see things you never thought possible in a good way.
#4 I really expect this is a limited program. First we must consider that the line to build this model is not even going to be changed over till late next year in Canada. GM I feel is wanting to get this to market sooner with a limited number imported vs. waiting another year when they are really needing new product in the show room. I would not be shocked if this model is added in Ingersoll Canada when the Nox goes on line.
#5 This is not the start of China Buicks but Global Buicks. I expect to see Buicks coming from all directions and many different countries as with the merger to Holden and Opel they will have the ability to build these where ever needed. That is much more than just China. As I pointed out the Convertible is now going into production at Opel in Poland and we will see other models added along the way. As Buicks volumes expand expect more to be built here. Just building 35,000 models at a plant is not too cost effective and that is why I feel this first year of the SUV is imported.
GM also has been building engines all over too. The Chevy I have that was made in Mexico had engines put in them from NY, TN and Germany. The Tranny was Springhill. and the horn was from an Italian company made in the USA.
Cars today are the friggen UN.
I even saw Aston Martin was looking to move production here from England on some cars because it was cheaper than England for the low volume high priced cars they offer. Wonder if Mr Bond is shaken on that?
I’m glad you brought up Aston Martin, because they currently have recall on all their gas pedals, because their supplier used inferior materials that did not meet Aston Martin specifications and is a hazard. When Aston figured out what the supplier did, they demanded a recall. This supplier is in China.
It’s not about vehicles built in other countries, its about them being built in China. And China does not follow the code of ethics the world has set. They have have no I.P. laws, their government just laughs about it. Just google search Chinese counterfeit cars.
They have property laws where the government own everything and the people own nothing. If their government wanted to they could just kick GM out of the country and build and sell envions them selves.
Then you have their other issues, where once a year toy is being recalled because it contains lead, or poisonous dog food, or some other thing.
They don’t play fare, and cut corners other countries would, that’s why people are having an issue with a China built Buick
You really do not get it.
This is a Global economy and China has made themselves a prime player that is a part of it and they can not be ignored. The fact is you crash their economy you crash pretty much everyone else.
The fact is much of our industry is either dependent on product coming from there or the sale of product in their country. The point is when you have billions of people who for once now have disposable incomes to buy products they were restricted from in decades someone has to sell to them. If we do not do business there we will lose even bigger than we are already.
Yes it is a risk to be there but it is a greater risk not to be there. Also one has to consider too that they need the MFG there just as much as MFGs need to be in China.
Lets put this into perspective. You have a company going under. You have a choice to go under or make a deal with a Devil of a partner you can not fully trust. What do you do?
Well you make the deal and then you structure your deal where you need him for his financial support and he needs you to run the company. It is not a partnership of friendship or even full trust but it is a partnership of necessity and binding needs.
Yes China is not a good country and not a good government but they have made themselves a relevant part of the global economy to the point they can not be ignored. Yes they are the 800 pound gorilla in the corner that you can not remove from the room. You can either be killed by him or you can work a deal where he needs you as much as you need him. You fail he fails the same the other way.
We did this with Russia for years and we will do it here.
As much as I would like it the reality is Isolationism no longer is an option. With the way the world works we can no longer do that anymore. China tried it for decades and look where it got them until they went to the controlled form of capitalism.
These things go much deeper than many really understand or than we can even fully explain here.
As I have said all Americans need to really get a firm grasp of how the global economics work today. This is much bigger than just our back yard anymore.
Again companies would love to make everything here but if they do would you pay the price? Few would. Then again if they made it here to the point where you could afford it would you work for the wage offered? Not many would.
So you run a company and you need to sell your products at a price that people will pay for it or Walmart will buy it for what do you do. Labor cost here would make your price so much more the public rejects your product for import made similar products what is your option?
America need so find ways to become competitive again and right now we have fallen behind. People have been given choices and they hate both. The reality of the situation will not permit isolationisam so what do you do.
Of you become irrelelvent to China and they want to call in their loans what do you do. Right now if they want their money they need to keep our economy flowing.
This is jus the tip of the spear and there is so much more involved.
Sure you can get mad and say I am not going to do this or that but in the big picture you mean little. I hate to say it but it is true. This is bigger than just saying you are not going to buy GM or Apple.
And of course all US companies play fair and non of them cut corners
Captiva?
Too many of our products are made in China. I will never buy a vehicle made there and will tell anyone who will listen not to buy one either. I will also stop buying GM vehicles if they continue to sell out American workers.
I totally agree with Hank , I own two GM products and they will be the last . We use to be proud nations , Canada and the USA , but now big business who got it’s success in our countries now goes global . Think of all the savings moneywise , with lower wages and benefits , no strikes , the return on investment is much enhanced , so big business gets bigger , but leaves behind a growing employment and City deterioration problem in parts of N. America . Frankly , I think Shareholders could probably care less as it’s all about profits and dividends . China is a brutal communist dictatorship , who is expanding their huge economic and military might ,,,,,,, so while the big international companies make the big profits , we the population get dumped on again and we are , indeed ,the ones who are dancing with the devil !!
You should wage a big campaign for all US companies, from Apple to McDonalds, and from GM to GE, to divest 100% from China and leave the largest national market on this planet to the Europeans and the Japanese.
Get real!
I see someone gets the big picture.
How many North American made cars does China import? ……crickets…. Oh, but to sell a car there, China demands their own Chinese partner to take profits. Guess the working man is screwed while the rich get richer.
I doubt that there’s capacity in Ingersoll to build this — right now they are three shifts building Equinox/Terrain with Oshawaw also building Equinox. I think Springhill is more likely.
I have a gut feeling the Terrain is going to Springhill with the XT5.
I have heard a few things from GM that make me believe this but I am waiting for confirmation.
#5 It’s Not “The Start” Of China-Assembled Buicks. Why be so naïve? If the Chinese assembled Envision is a success then why not import the Regal, Verano and Lacrosse? It may not be “planned” at this point, but if the Envision does well, and it very likely will, then why not shift other models that way?
I don’t care for it, and would not choose a Chinese assembled Buick, but so many simply do not know or have any care for where the vehicle assembled? I would bet that if you surveyed 100 Encore owners, less than 10 know that it’s assembled in Korea. Of those few that know its assembled in Korea, ZERO of them care that its made there.
Good synopsis of the situation.
I have an aversion to supporting the Chinese in the automotive field (even if it’s irrational as I have bought Japanese built vehicles). The Chinese seem to make everything and I would rather draw the line with my automobile purchase.
That said, let’s hope this is a great vehicle and a huge sales success so that GM opens up a factory in the US.
I am thinking it will come here summer 2018, with the Equinox and Terrain replacements. I think of it similarly to what Buick did with the Regal by bringing it from Germany until N.A. capacity was created for it.
I don’t care if a car is built in Canada , Mexico ,Australia or South Korea. None of them are our economic rivals .
And for people to dumb down Americans for not knowing who our V.P is our who may not know who is the head of the House of Representatives screams of bigotry . Not everyone is interested in politics and don’t care . That is their choice . Also its not political to care that GM is exporting Vehicles from a country that has no human rights and is destroying the planets air quality . Just 2 days ago China issued an alert to the country to stay indoors if possible and to not drive a vehicle because the air pollution was so bad .
I will argue that most customers when they learn where the Envision is produced will walk away . And that may be to another automaker . A lost sale for GM . There isn’t a UAW employee that will buy one . They will tell their families and neighbors and friends about it …… more lost sales .
It was the American taxpayers that lifted GM out of bankruptcy , you think that the public won’t be highly upset to find out what GM is up to ?
Also the UAW workers are the highest trained group GM has ever had . Years ago it may have been driving a screw with a torque gun 500 time a day . But that just isnt true anymore , they build cars as a team now a concept that was introduced from the Japanese . These people go to school and are introduced to this concept and if you can’t cut it you are not hired . The workforce are highly trained in the build process before they even step foot on the factory floor . In the old days it was common for GM to go to the high schools and look for 18 year olds to hire for their assembly plants . Those folks are the ones that had the mundane jobs “driving screws” all day .
It would suprise people that alot of the workforce have colledge degrees .
So jump off your high horses , what GM is doing is wrong and it won’t stop at a mere 35-40,000 unit for 1 division . If you think that you are the one that needs to get an education .
So lets stop calling the company General Motors LLC to “Global Motors” , because that is closer to the truth .
This is a propaganda piece based on the China backlash, pure and simple. Here’s some facts NOT found here.
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/tradnewsrelease.htm dated 12/4/2015.
The October figures show surpluses, in billions of dollars, with South and Central America
($2.8), United Kingdom ($0.6), and OPEC ($0.4). Deficits were recorded, in billions of dollars,
with China ($30.2), European Union ($13.3), Mexico ($6.3), Germany ($6.2), Japan ($5.3), Italy
($2.3), South Korea ($2.3), India ($2.0), France ($1.7), Canada ($0.2), Brazil ($0.2), and Saudi
Arabia (less than $0.1).
* The surplus with members of OPEC decreased $1.3 billion to $0.4 billion in October. Exports
decreased $1.6 billion to $5.1 billion and imports decreased $0.3 billion to $4.7 billion.
* The deficit with Mexico increased $0.9 billion to $6.3 billion in October. Exports increased
$0.1 billion to $19.7 billion and imports increased $1.0 billion to $26.0 billion.
* The balance with the United Kingdom shifted from a deficit of $1.2 billion to a surplus of
$0.6 billion in October. Exports increased $0.4 billion to $5.2 billion and imports decreased
$1.4 billion to $4.5 billion.
Notice WHERE we have surplus and deficits! CHINA the largest and even Mexico and Canada, people. We have a much larger deficit globally than surplus! Get it yet?! Ignorance is not bliss.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it AGAIN. NAFTA Phucked us and if the TPP passes as it most likely will you will see MANY more countries added to the deficits listed above, which will KILL us. Big $$/ business has killed the manufacturing here for cheap labor overseas that CAN’T afford to buy our products.
Trade is great as long as your NOT the one with the trade DEFICIT!!!! The government is NOT looking out for our best interest! Keep buying Chinese made products, YOUR making them rich while screwing the American worker.
BE AMERICAN, BUY AMERICAN!!!
You can point the finger at Big business all you like but the truth is if they build many things here Americans either would not buy it or could not buy it due to the labor cost.
The real issue is we are now in a global economy and it has and will effect the way we live and work if we want to become competitive.
It was ok when we only competed from state to state but today we are competing against other countries that want the jobs worse than we do.
This is not going to be an easy or painless transition but if we do not make it we will only be left with a service industry.
We have learned recently with Walmart how they have raised the pay but now they have gone back and raised prices and also gone back on suppliers to lower cost. Most are scraping the bottom of the barrel now.
This is a vicious circle. The more people make the more prices will rise. Labor tried to pin this all on the MFG and the consumers want to pin it on the retailers but the fact is we all have a part in this game.
You can’t become a millionaire working at Walmart and also you will not become a millionaire working an assembly line. If you do then you will be fighting inflation beyond belief.
Too many American will not work and do what it takes to improve their position in life. It is not easy and takes work and sacrifice and at times luck that you position yourself in. If you look at many of the great industrial leaders of the past like Henry Ford he failed and was broke several times before he made it.
We have lost that spirit and too many want things either handed to them or they want the easy way by stealing it through ill business deals or even just something as selling drugs or some other simple path.
The bottom line is business no matter where it is prime goal is to make money. If it is a publicly traded company it will be to give a return to share holders while making a profit. Sorry it is not a noble public cause for society but we reap the benefits from this venture and that is what has made our country great.
BULL$HIT. Spare the struggling middle class who pays the majority of the bills in this country your spew.
Trade DEFICIT. What part of that don’t you understand? Maybe your one of those that makes their living via the deficit and we can thank you??
Keep on drinking that kool aide.
We are falling behind because people believe as you.
The middle class pays more because there are more of us at least for now. The rich pay more per person because they earn more.
I get tired of this social economic play. The left uses it to get votes and then does nothing for you. Not saying the right is much better.
C4ce This is the problem. Companies can do it cheaper some where else they will to keep their prices down and to make money. If they pay the wages demanded here no own will buy it and the items made over seas will still under cut their prices.
Second you are not going to stop imports. Many anymore can no longer be made here with out major investment as many of the older plants are out dated or of no use anymore. Many in my area are fields due to the unions.
Third we have to keep China viable as if they fail we fail but then if we fail they fail. Our economics are reliant on each other. It is a way governments keep hostile or opposing governments honest to the greater degree they can.
You can not just stop imports no matter how much you want to. You also can not eliminate China from the equation as they have made them selves relevant to the global economics.
I do not benefit with imports and if anything it makes my job even more difficult. Because of this though I see the big picture and understand all that is involved not the bar stool economics practiced by many.
You want to know why Trump leads poles he says what they want to hear but in the end he will not be able to do what he says other than build a wall. It is also how people like Hilary gets away with saying what does it matter when she is into up to her ass.
The people of this country have really become economically and politically bankrupt in their knowledge. The fact is schools do not teach much of it anymore and collage is so slanted so much anymore that even it they teach it they only teach their views.
Like it or not China is here and we have to deal with them. You have no real choice. This is much bigger than 35K Buicks.
More republikan BS. Can’t wait to see the GOP rejected next election, again. Wack jobs, the lot of ’em….
Sounds to me you are part of the problem not the solution. One on the left that has no idea how things work and believes the government is here to take care of him cradle to grave.
The problem is The Dems are so far left they left the real FDR Dems behind. The GOP is infighting with themselves they can’t even beat old battle Axe Hillary.
To be honest I seek no comfort from either side.
The guy I like best is a Dem Senator from WVA and both side hate him. Maybe that is why I like him.
The the right is too smart for their own good and the left eat all they are spoon fed from the unions and have no clue on how economies work. The poor SOB’s can’t figure out why they never get ahead even when they hold the House, Senate and President.
Fixing the trade imbalance isn’t rocket science, but it’ll take leadership that has the balls to call out what needs to be called out (and should’ve been countless years ago) and do what needs to be done to fix it. First and foremost, you need to acknowledge the problem and stop just dismissing it as an unfortunate byproduct of “progress” and present day economics. Firm leadership is needed. I don’t care if you’re Republican or Democrat or wherever you fall in between. We all have a stake in this and it means everything to our kids and future generations. We can’t wait another minute to fix it. Parity isn’t asking too much unless you believe that America not only is no longer great, but doesn’t deserve to be ever again. This is a nonpartisan issue; the utter failure of Free Trade is echoed on both sides. If you’re a Democrat, check out Bernie Sander’s stance. And if you’re not, read this: https://www.donaldjtrump.com/positions/us-china-trade-reform Either way, the insane trade imbalance must be fixed as it is absolutely crucial to the future of this country. There are no reasonable defenses for our government’s caving into China’s unfair trade practices and our willing surrender of US jobs and intellectual property, nor the hypocrisy of talking up environmentalism and human rights at home while downplaying China’s massive impact on global pollution and utter lack of fair labor standards. None.
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/stop-the-tpp
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/the-trans-pacific-trade-tpp-agreement-must-be-defeated?inline=file
While you like posting Oped’s, here are more links to fact and a blog that support my previous posts.
http://economyincrisis.org/nafta
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-p-hoffa/labor-unions-tpp_b_8740856.html
These people are more knowledgeable than you or myself so take a read and learn something.
The US government definitely isn’t protecting the best interests of this country as it stands, allowing an imbalanced trade disaster that has been escalating for decades to continue unabated and not challenging foreign trade policies. The globalist propagandists sewed the seeds of “competition” while the big thinkers spouted rhetoric urging all young Americans to attend college knowing full well the outcome would be an abbreviated spectrum of employment opportunities. Go ahead and fast forward a couple of decades to see just how well that’s worked out…
Imbalance cannot ever be fixed with more imbalance. The US cannot justify the sacrifice of production jobs because “other nations can provide cheaper labor” nor should Americans be so easily conned into accepting our new role as “service provider to the world”. Other countries will invent and market and provide services for less (particularly when we invest heavily in their infrastructure) and they will take away those jobs, too if we let them. By continuing to accept free trade as it exists today, we send one message to the rest of the world: We will give you our jobs if you can do them cheaper.
With over two decades of massive investment in China by American corporations and the full support of a very misguided US government and consumers alike, it won’t be long before Chinese auto manufacturers are on an equal footing with GM and Ford who already must enter into joint ventures to build and sell their cars in China and likewise share information and intellectual property. The burgeoning Chinese auto industry will put GM and Ford out of business at some point in the not too distant future if US policy regarding free trade isn’t thoroughly revamped. It is all but certain that China will never open their ports to American automobile exports, but odds are Americans will be more than willing to purchase millions of Chinese cars that cost much less than American ones.
China’s rapidly expanding military and a significant increase in violence and poverty in ghost towns all across the US where shuttered factories now stand can both be attributed unequivocally to the free trade experiment. It really is every US consumer’s responsibility to start letting their conscience weigh heavily upon purchasing decisions before Made in China really is our only choice and more and more Americans of all socioeconomic classes find themselves (not surprisingly) without employment. Time to wake up.
Go back 40 years and all of a sudden some Americans thought it was fashionable to drive Japanese cars. That momentum carried into the 90’s and those profits those subsidizes and cartel-ed Japanese companies started moving some of their high volume vehicle assembly here. Today, after another 20 years, god forbid that GM import a car from China. A car that is ready there, but at least 2 years away from being able to be built here. GM, nor Ford, build all of their vehicles in the U.S. or Canada anymore because of this, nor can they fill their vehicles with 100% U.S. or Canadian parts, like they used to. They have to do what the Japanese do; otherwise, the Japanese competitive advantage will destroy GM and Ford. So you can thank the Japanese and go ahead and thank your neighbor or coworker who will only drive Japanese because they say, GM imports their vehicles, but my Camry is American.
We have never gone to war against China. We have been to war against the Japanese. The Japanese committed hideous war crimes against the Allies, including cannibalism, and slaughtered or maimed some 6 million Chinese during WWII. China is a big boy, they’re the big boy across the street that could do us some damage if they ever confronted us. We don’t believe in their government or probably many other things about their great nation, but the U.S. has their problems too. How many people were shot and murdered tonight in America?
I have nothing against the Chinese, but won’t support their economy. I already buy enough garbage from there, I definitely don’t need to be buying their cars. We are a great enough country that we should be able to provide all vehicles to all Americans. Thus, I will never buy a vehicle that is not made in the U.S. or Canada and won’t buy a vehicle from a foreign manufacturer. I’m American and proud to drive American, proud to drive GM. You won’t see me owning a 2016 or 2017 Buick Envision, unless I move to China!
The truth is people wanted more MPG and found little here to give it to them. They did not find the Honda fashionable but they did find it better than a Pinto.
The problem is in the past our economies were apart and did not matter to each of us. Today we are all tied together and even if China Is not our close friend we have to keep them alive because if they go down we go down. Same for them.
Now that does not mean we can influence them in different ways but that also is a two way street.
If this were only as easy as not buying from them but it is not. More Americans really needs to take a deeper and more detailed education in global economics. If we all learned more we would be much stronger in this fight. At this point most people based on their post do not really understand the fight here.
This is a lot bigger and much more complex than just 35K SUV models.
Before you’re ready to give a, Thumbs down, on everyone who thinks importing the Envision from China; have you looked at where your smartphone or notebook is made as Autoline’s John McElroy said it best as the Envision is a niche market vehicle that won’t sell more than 40K cars a year and if the Envision is a surprise hit selling 20,000 cars a month, General Motors would open a new factory to build the Envision in the US.
You are accurate here,
Also the fact is they are opening a plant here but not for another year to build this platform. I expect it will be moved there at that time. In the mean time Buick gets a year lead on a new product that they dearly need in a sparsely packed show room.
” You can point your finger at big business all you like but the truth is if they build many things here Americans either would not buy it or could not buy it because of the labor cost ” , lets keep this short and sweet . Economics 101
After WWII when we switched to building items for the consumers at home , jobs were created , the middle class exploded because the workers had money in their pockets to buy homes and automobiles etc.. Those manufacturing jobs were high paying jobs and by buying American made items big business had to hire more workers to keep up with the demand . And then more cars were bought and houses built and the economy ‘s GDP put more money in the governments hand from all the new tax revenue to build roads and bridges . And then you needed Americans to build those roads and bridges .
It is an erronious statement that Americans wouldn’t be able to buy the product if it was built here .
The truth is ……… if big business keeps sending the high paying labor intensive jobs over seas then yes Americans won’t be able to buy those products because they lost that job and are now working two jobs that probably pay minimum wage .
And what some people don’t get is the only reason the minimum wage is going up is because there are so many people trying to survive on that wage . It’s not the college grad. or the high school senior looking for a part time job its folks that have house payments and food to put on the table to feed their kids .
So while we watch big business keep sending those high paying jobs over to the Pacific Rim , our economy will continue to suffer . And your taxes will continue to grow to help fund all the programs to keep Americans from living on the street .
You say its only a “niche” market , 35-40,000 units couldn’t possibly hurt anyone . That may be true for now but in the years that follow that number is going to grow . JMO
I’m not a big fan of building the Envision in China, so I’m glad that’s only going to be temporary. To be honest, what bothers me more is that the powertrain lineup will consist entirely of four-cylinder engines. (The same is true of the next-generation Chevy Equinox, apparently.) I realize that great strides have been made in recent years in suppressing a four-cylinder engine’s innate mechanical noise, which always sounds shrill and discordant to my ears. But still, one is always reminded that it feels like a four-cylinder, sounds like a four-cylinder, and altogether still is a four-cylinder. And that, in my view, always cheapens a car. The situation isn’t entirely GM’s fault: Those damnable CAFE regulations–for which we have President Obama to blame–are forcing automakers’ hand. But still…four cylinders. Ugh! The Enclave is thankfully still powered by a six. I’d rather have it.
Well, well, well… What a familiar story.. And the comments are all too familiar as well. Are you sure this isn’t the Holden page? Just wait for the announcement.. 2020 I reckon. National sales company coming up..
Well, well, well… Doesn’t this subject sound familiar.. Even the comments have a familiar tone to them. Are we sure this isn’t the Holden page.. How long before GMNA change to a National Sales Operation and import everything from Asia. Just wait for the announcement. 2020 or 2025? No.. Couldn’t happen I hear you say. That’s what we thought!!
I’ve said this elsewhere but I’ll say it here too. Here is my feeling…..The controversy is not about the “Envision” or any model actually. It’s not even about Buick. Actually, I’m sure the Envision is a nice car and will be built to the same standards if not even higher standards than US build GM vehicles. The controversy is about GM even considering importing a car from China in the first place regardless if it is temporary or not. I’m sorry but no, it’s not “RIGHT” for GM to import any car from China ……at least not for GM, and certainly not right now. No matter how much sugar GM and GM fan sites try to put on this hairy cat turd of a topic, it is still a hairy cat turd. Think about it, GM has some major image issues to overcome with mainstream America amidst the Bankruptcy, Bailout, and the latest the ignition switch debacle that just keeps getting more and more media attention all the time.
If you haven’t noticed, the average Joe on the street has GM in the penalty box for the “sins” that have made main stream media (while naively rewarding Ford for Forest Gumping themselves into the position they are in because they didn’t take the bailout…wink, wink) and with GM now looking like they will be the first of the big 3 to import a vehicle from China is going to further taint their image even more. Just wait until the mainstream media catches on to this GM car imported from China story or worse, someone like Trump to make an ass of GM for making such a foolish business decision (I actually hope he does!). Hell, I’m tempted to send his campaign team a lead to the story if someone hasn’t already because I am so pissed off at GM for being so foolish.
You know, I have the highest respect for Maria Barra but I honestly do not know what the hell she and her people are thinking on this particular topic. There is no doubt it will be a matter of time before we see Chinese built cars on American roads (I believe Volvo will be one of the first in 2016?? or something like that) but again, GM’s imagine is in no position to be the first to take part in the inevitable Chinese car invasion. Maybe, 10 years from now….but NOT now. Let Ford or some other jerkoff company take the beating for importing a Chinese built car first.
This Chinese import ordeal is even a worse PR move on GM’s part than the ridiculous pro-steel Silverado vs. Aluminum F150 online media campaign GM was doing over the summer when in fact GM is working on complete aluminum full-size truck of their own. GM is going to look very foolish whenever they bring their aluminum truck to market after such a dumb campaign. Personally, I am okay with steel or aluminum…it’s just the ad campaign was ridiculous and very short sighted.
The author of this GMA article is correct in that the defecation has yet to hit the rotating receptacle…but it will! And I might just be a big part of the social media blast as I am so pissed.
As I have often said, GM’s biggest fans are their toughest critics. This GM move is bullshit and I hope they fall on a sword for it.
Larry very well said An American brand car should be only assembled in AMERICA . I to have respect for Mary Berra , but what the hell is she thinking with especially in these times. China products are a insult to American workers & they are CRAP