Buick LaCrosse Sales Decrease 51 Percent To 1,385 Units In December 2017
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Buick LaCrosse sales decreased in the United States and in Canada in December 2017.
Buick LaCrosse Sales - December 2017 - United States
In the United States, Buick LaCrosse deliveries totaled 1,385 units in December 2017, a decrease of about 51 percent compared to 2,826 units sold in December 2016. The results represent the model's lowest-ever December sales performance.During the complete 2017 calendar year, LaCrosse sales decreased about 27 percent to 20,161 units. The results represent the model's lowest-ever full year sales performance.
| MODEL | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LACROSSE | -50.99% | 1,385 | 2,826 | -26.91% | 20,161 | 27,582 |
Buick LaCrosse Sales - December 2017 - Canada
In Canada, Buick LaCrosse deliveries totaled 51 units in December 2017, a decrease of about 25 percent compared to 68 units sold in December 2016.During the complete 2017 calendar year, LaCrosse sales increased about 17 percent to 921 units.
| MODEL | DEC 2017 / DEC 2016 | DECEMBER 2017 | DECEMBER 2016 | YTD 2017 / YTD 2016 | YTD 2017 | YTD 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LACROSSE | -25.00% | 51 | 68 | +17.32% | 921 | 785 |
The GM Authority Take
Buick LaCrosse sales continued their downward trend in December, placing the model in last place in its segment in terms of overall sales volume behind the Lexus ES in first and Lincoln MKZ in second (see Lincoln MKZ sales). What’s more, the large Buick sedan saw the biggest drop in overall sales volume in its segment during December as well as for the complete 2017 calendar year.
We attribute the disappointing LaCrosse sales results to the following factors:
- An ongoing change in consumer buying dynamics that favors crossover utility vehicles (CUVs/SUVs) over sedans, and
- A lackluster market reception to the current, third-generation LaCrosse
- A lack of focus on selling the vehicle at Buick dealers, partially caused by a lack of proper incentives at the corporate level
Going forward, we expect LaCrosse deliveries to continue at their current, depressed pace unless something is done at the marketing or retail sales levels to boost sales. Otherwise, Buick will be offloading LaCrosse inventory to fleets or at retail with high levels of incentives, or further cutting production of the model.
Sales Numbers - Large Premium Comfort Sedans - December 2017 - United States
| MODEL | DEC 17 / DEC 16 | DECEMBER 17 | DECEMBER 16 | YTD 17 / YTD 16 | YTD 17 | YTD 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES | -19.11% | 5,047 | 6,239 | -11.84% | 51,398 | 58,299 |
| MKZ | -13.47% | 2,293 | 2,650 | -10.31% | 27,387 | 30,534 |
| LACROSSE | -50.99% | 1,385 | 2,826 | -26.91% | 20,161 | 27,582 |
| TOTAL | -25.52% | 8,725 | 11,715 | -15.01% | 98,946 | 116,415 |
The large premium sedan segment contracted 25 percent in December and 15 percent during the complete 2017 calendar year.
About Buick LaCrosse
The Buick LaCrosse is a full-size premium sedan that slots above the compact Buick Verano and midsize Buick Regal. The current, third-generation LaCrosse was introduced for the 2017 model year. The vehicle is based on the long wheelbase variant of the GM E2 platform. The short-wheelbase variant of the same platform is shared with the sixth-generation Buick Regal and ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu.
The 2018 model introduced several new colors, the GM 9-speed automatic transmission in place of the 2017 model’s 8-speed. It also added a new standard powertrain in the form of the mild-hybrid 2.5L engine with eAssist coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. In addition, the 2018 LaCrosse Avenir is introduced to serve as the range-topping model.
For North America, the Buick LaCrosse is built exclusively at the GM Detroit Hamtramck factory operated by GM USA. A GM China factory produces the vehicle for China.
About The Numbers
- All percent change figures compared to Buick LaCrosse December 2016 sales
- In the United States, there were 26 selling days in December 2017 and 27 selling days in December 2016
- In Canada, there were 25 selling days in December 2017 and 27 selling days in December 2016
Related News & Info
- GM news
- GM incentives and offers
- Buick LaCrosse information
Related Sales Reporting
- Running GM sales results
- Running Buick sales results
- Running Buick LaCrosse sales results
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- Running Buick sales results
- December 2017 GM sales results
- U.S. GM December 2017 sales results
- U.S. December 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- U.S. December 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. December 2017 Buick sales results
- U.S. December 2017 GMC sales results
- GM Canada December 2017 sales results
- Canada December 2017 Chevrolet sales results
- Canada December 2017 Cadillac sales results
- Canada December 2017 Buick sales results
- Canada December 2017 GMC sales results
- GM China December 2017 sales results
- Global December 2017 Cadillac sales results
- U.S. GM December 2017 sales results
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I saw this car parked on the street the other day and thought it looked great in person.
Where is a sporty variant offering for Buick models (i.e. T Type or GS designation for each model)?Figure out what customers want and broaden the appeal.
The MSRP is way too high on an otherwise great car. There’s no way this car should run at $50,000. Also, a weak advertising campaign is to blame.
You do realize that the “S” in MSRP stands for “suggested”? GM is offering a $7000 rebate on the ’17s right now, and there is additional select market bonus cash in many areas. It’s $2500 where I live. If you live near Detroit, it is $3000 including auto show bonus cash. In addition, if you have a GM Card, you have an additional $1500 bonus earnings top-off which can be used in addition to the normal $1500 limit for max savings of $3000. Many dealers are also offering deep discounts on top of this. I have seen dealer discounts exceeding $5000. Have a GM lease in your household? -that’s another $2000 off. GM is practically giving these away! Also, $50k is loaded with all the options, even the Premium trim starts in the low $40s.
In each of those trim levels, start adding options, even a Premium trim level can reach 50, or close to it.
By now, we all know GM advertising and marketing is crap. This is nothing new, and I don’t ever remember any advertising behind the Lacrosse going back to the first gen. Yet, somehow people knew they existed, and bought them. Also, having the biggest overall sales drop in the segment says this is a Lacrosse problem, and not just a market shift to crossovers. So, what’s wrong?
It’s a good looking car, but it seems that a majority of people are divided into two camps in regards to styling:
1- it looks too traditional like Buick took a step backwards, and
2- Like the looks, but are disappointed that it isn’t as big as a Lucerne. -For these people, get over the paper dimensions, and go try it. It feels like a much roomier car from behind the wheel compared to the previous generation.
I like the looks, and the current discounts, so I picked one up. In many ways it’s better than the car it replaced (which I also owned), but in many ways it’s not.
Buick said that this car was going to be class leading in all aspects, and they have failed. The trunk, while bigger than its predecessor, still trails in the class for cargo volume. On top of that, it has intrusive trunk hinges that intrude on that space. Why did Buick abandon the hydraulic trunk hinges that they were using in the late 90s and early 00s?
The car is significantly lighter than the predecessor, and has a nominal amount of additional hp and torque, yet feels slower and heavier. More pedal pressure is required to get the car moving, and it feels choppy and jerky under acceleration. I mostly blame the 8-speed tranny for this. Perhaps the 9-speed is better? The transmission also tries real hard to hold the car back when descending hills instead of just letting it roll. It even fights back by just revving the engine when I try to give it gas until if finally breaks free and lets me speed up.
It feels decontented with the lack of CD player. I’m young for a Lacrosse owner (in my 30s), and I miss it. Older people aren’t streaming music, they miss the CD player too. The sunglasses holder has been eliminated from the overhead console, as has the storage bin to the left of the steering wheel. Also, no speed limit indicator in the gauge cluster.
The electronic shifter is unnecessary, and shifting into reverse is a PITA. I hate that it’s a multi-step process, and I miss the “clunk” of the shifter detents to let me know that I am in the proper gear without having to look at it. The gauge cluster is also not aimed up at my eye sightline, and instead seems to aim towards my chest. The current Malibu is the same way. The start button is also too low, and pointed down.
The upcoming Avenir is more of a designer package than a top of the line model. The previous model had a sueded headliner and real wood trim with the ultra lux package. Why didn’t these features make the change over? Also, why didn’t Buick step it up with power folding mirrors, automatic heated steering wheel, illuminated sill plates and a color wheel for the interior ambient lighting?
Lastly, with two shades of white, two shades of black, three shades of gray (including silver) and an ugly greige (pepperdust), is it any wonder nobody notices it?
It’s a great car that I wouldn’t mind owning, but GM’s lack of marketing and the vehicle’s general lack of “excitement” can be to blame here. We can also blame price. It starts cheap, but so does the Impala on which it’s based, which only starts a couple grand less. And you can get a fully loaded top-trim Impala Premier for just over $40,000, whereas a loaded LaCrosse Premium goes for nearly $52k (you can’t build an Avenir just yet). Not to mention the Cadillac XTS starts just north of $46k. So the LaCrosse is not only competing with the Lexus ES and Lincoln MKZ, but its own siblings as well. Do you want a fully loaded Impala or a base LaCrosse Premium, missing nearly $12k in options? You can basically all of the LaCrosse’s options on the Impala. Adaptive cruise control, 20″ wheels, the 3.6L V6, a panoramic sun roof, premium audio, etc. All for $10k less than the LaCrosse. Then there’s the XTS. You can get a lovely XTS Luxury for the same price as a loaded LaCrosse Premium, with higher-end materials and a more exciting design. So do you want a Cadillac or a Buick at $52k, if you had to choose? That’s the problem the LaCrosse faces. Perhaps it will have better luck when the XTS is discontinued, or perhaps it’s doomed for cancellation. Personally, I hope not!
There is a lot of discussion about Buick’s price point. With Chevys in the 40 and 50 thousand price range, exactly where do you think Buick should be? I understand you should get more for your money. I also understand to have two divisions competing in the same price range does not make sense. I am thinking eighter Buick need to step up it’s game and make itself worthy of the price difference or go bye bye. There is one other thought, perhaps Buick is waiting for Cadillac to finally establish itself as a full fledged player in the luxury field so tha it can finally step up into the true mid Luxury field.
Scaredy Cat doesn’t release Buick Avenir Concept, Scaredy Cat doesn’t get any Lacross sales.
(I originally posted this message with a different term of ‘Scaredy Cat’. Apparently the Prez can use it when talking about grabbing women but I can’t when discussing cowardly moves by GM. What a world…)
I’m “only” 42 and could see myself driving one, I find the exterior very elegant.
The problem is the interior. I expect a full size Buick sedan to have copious amounts of legroom and hiproom. The center console is too wide and infringes on passenger space. “Cockpit” design should be left for sports cars, not Buicks (perhaps with an exception made for vehicles like the Regal GS). This should be a cruiser that gobbles up highway miles and lets you and 3 other full size adults stretch their legs.
I think that the LaCrosse is just that – a comfortable cruise that can gobble up highway miles with plenty of room for 4 full-size adults.
You do have to make the cabin attractive, even if it isn’t a sports car of sorts, which the LaCrosse isn’t pretending to be.
I’m guessing you have not driven one of these yet? There is definitely more width to the footwell for the driver and front passenger in the new model. My leg used to bump against the console in my ’15 all the time, but does not in the ’17. I would prefer the console to be an inch or two lower just to open the interior up more visually, but it’s not intrusive at all. The door panels are also better designed to give more arm and leg space on that side, and the dash now goes straight across too, so banging your knee/shins on it is no longer a problem. They made much better use of the interior space available on the new model.
Imagine the proposed 2.7L Opposed Piston engine for the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 in a 2019 Buick LaCrosse as you wouldn’t need two engines; the 2.7L OP or the 2.7L OP with mild hybrid as with 270 hp and 450 lbs-ft of torque, it could replace the 3.6L V6 and even without the mild hybrid should get mileage similar to that of the Silverado 1500 or 37 mpg.
Nice car overall but with several negatives built in that are holding it back.
Advertising is very poor as if GM doesn’t really want to build it.
The shifter doesn’t belong in this car and should never have made it into production on this Buick
The 8 speed transmission programming was half baked and this car should have come with the 9 speed from the start
The front seat is tight with the overly wide center console
Stop/start is not appreciated by the majority and should come with a defeat button
Certain interior pieces feel cheap which is barely acceptable at 30k but not 50K
The pricing is too high and there is too much of a delta on base and upper trims despite having only a couple more features
Charging extra money for common paint colors is bad enough yet Buick charges for just about every paint color save black or white
The trunk is still too small for a full size Buick sedan and the hinges and boxed in trim need to be re-thought out
An Avenir model can crest well into the 50’s which is right in the middle of the Cadillac XTS
Interior storage has taken a step back with not even a place to stick your sunglasses
Buick did respond with a lower priced hybrid model and swapping out to the 9 speed but didn’t change much else and if you want a V6 you are going to pay more than before. This car fully deserves to exist and GM needs to get of it’s SUV high horse and start paying a bit more attention to it’s cars so it doesn’t get caught with its pants down like it did after the 1990’s fiasco.
Again GM doesn’t know what it is doing , they are allowing this division and this segment to fail . the buyer will purchase a Impala nicely equipped before they look at a base stripped down lacrosse ( that they don’t know exist not advertised)were a previous lacrosse owner and bought a 2107 you realized you lost eye glass holder-lane departure -ambient lighting to mention a few , without paying more which will bring you close to the Cadillac pricing . Buick was the wrong division to keep.. Oldsmobile or Pontic would have been the ideal choice which had better loyalty , having a better lineup for the younger buyer, and better pricing not to step on Chevy or Cadillac . Back in the good days remember when Olds or Pontiac would hold 3rd position in sales –Buick never did .
I was in search of buying that one but the thing has stopped me to buy that car is to decrease its value. Anyone of you guys can explain that what phenomenon is there beyond its price decreasing.