We’ve already brought you spy shots of the upcoming Buick Enspire, along with exclusive information about the future crossover’s exterior dimensions, interior infotainment features, and powertrain offerings. And now, we have information about production plans for the upcoming small crossover.
Sources familiar with the Buick Enspire project have told GM Authority that the upcoming small CUV will be assembled at the SAIC-GM Jinqiao South plant in Shanghai, China for the Chinese market.
The plant currently builds the Cadillac ATS-L, Buick LaCrosse, and Buick Regal. The Enspire will take the place of the Cadillac ATS-L, whose successor – the Cadillac CT5 – will be made at the Jinqiao Cadillac facility. Sources shared that GM is allocating annual production of 112,000 units of the Buick Enspire to the Jinqiao South plant, with monthly capacity being around 9,000 units.
Meanwhile, North American production of the Buick Enspire is a bit more murky, with no definitive information currently available. Sources have tipped that the automaker is planning to produce the Enspire at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas, but stopped short of providing specific production volume targets. It’s also worth noting that the ongoing UAW negotiations might impact what’s currently planned. The Fairfax facility currently builds the Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac XT4, which ride on the same GM E2 platform as the Buick Enspire.
The Buick Enspire will be positioned between the Buick Envision and upcoming midsize baby Buick Enclave (in China) and between the Buick Envision and full-size Buick Enclave (in North America). It will be similar in size to its platform-mate, the Cadillac XT4. It’s worth noting that the Enspire will be a more premium offering than the Envision, despite the two models having similar dimensions. However, the Enspire might replace the Envision outright in North America.
We expect the Buick Enspire to be revealed sometime in the first half of the 2020 calendar year and go on sale in the second half of the year as a 2021 model year vehicle. The model is expected to be sold and manufactured in both North America and China.
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Comments
I think this will be a winner for GM/Buick for sure. But make it here in America please. That will only make it that much more desirable to people like me.
It will probably be built in Kansas City or Detroit area, since those plants already have tooling to deal with the E2 Platform. More than likely in Kansas City though, because the Detroit area plants currently suffer from Quality and Labor Issues. The GM vehicles built in non union states seem to have better quality overall. The Malibu I purchased was built in Kansas City, and it has held up very well. But I’ve heard horror stories among people who purchased Malibu’s built in the Detroit Area plants.
That gauge cluster and rear view mirror (along with the side view mirrors) look exactly like the ones on the XT4. From what I can see, the steering wheels does as well. The only real difference I can immediately see (besides the basic body lines) is that the XT4 has a hidden rear wiper and this does not.
Why does GM always find a way to ruin a good thing??!!
China is an extremely competitive market, so you can expect Buick to offer-up their best stuff there….and the States benefit (…well, they don’t realize it now, but they will.)
When the concept Enspire came out in 2018 it was suppose to be an all-electric car with a range of 340 miles. Now it’s a gasoline car. I’m made as hell about that. WHAT THE FREAK HAPPENED?
only if it is assembled in AMERICA
I haven’t heard you mention anything about the Buick Envoy is some time. Is that the orange car concept you talked about earlier this past spring?
Or was the “orange car” the new (second generation) Chinese Encore, which has mostly been shown in an orange color? (Meanwhile, it looks like many official photos of the 2020 Corvette mid-engine convertible are that same orange – is that supposed to be the “hot” color now?)