Buick Envision production has been severely impacted by the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage, GM Authority has learned.
This comes in spite of the fact that the premium compact crossover is built in China, but the semiconductor shortage that began roughly within the past month has gradually gotten worse.
The all-new, second-generation 2021 Buick Envision made its debut in May of 2020 and production began at the GM Jinqiao plant in Shanghai, China. From there, the new Envision gets distributed to each of the four markets where the Buick brand is available, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico well as in China. The 2022 Envision continues to be built at the same plant, representing the only GM product built in China and exported to the U.S.
The first-generation Buick Envision was also produced in China, but at a different facility, namely the SAIC-GM Dongyue North plant. Like the current Envision, the first-generation model was also sold in China and throughout North America. In fact, the first-generation Envision is still sold in China as the Envision, while the new model is sold as the Envision S.
And even though the vast majority of the microchips for the auto industry and beyond are manufactured in Asia, apparently even China is not immune to impacts from the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage that is expected to remain well into 2022.
Getting Buick Envision production back in full swing is critical if GM wants to continue profiting from a real winner it has on its hands. The 2022 Buick Envision was recently listed among the best new crossovers under $40,000 by Consumer Reports. A bit before in October 2021, the publication recognized the 2021 Buick Envision as a top luxury SUV to buy.
The 2022 Envision is powered by the turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder LSY gasoline engine, which is rated at 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The four-cylinder is paired with the GM nine-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to either the front wheels as standard, or all four wheels as an available option.
The Tri-Shield brand introduced only minor changes to the Envision for the 2022 model year, including the deletion of the Dark Moon Metallic exterior color, which was indirectly replaced by Sapphire Metallic. There’s also a set of a new 18-inch wheel option, the deletion of the In-Vehicle Air Ionizer system and the introduction of expanded availability for the Continuous Damping Control suspension system.
The newfound production disruption of the Buick Envision will most likely have a major impact on sales, which have been trending upward since the launch of 2022 model. In 2021, Envision sales jumped 33 percent to 46,450 units, posting the largest increase in the luxury C-segment crossover segment, finishing the year in third place. The Lexus NX took first followed by the Acura RDX in second. The segment as a whole grew slightly more than 2 percent with 296,626 sales, meaning that sales of the Buick Envision outperformed the field by a substantial margin.
Sales Numbers - Luxury C-Segment Crossovers - 2021 - United States
MODEL YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20 YTD 21 SHARE YTD 20 SHARE LEXUS NX +4.89% 58,514 55,784 20% 19% ACURA RDX +8.01% 57,013 52,785 19% 18% BUICK ENVISION +32.93% 46,450 34,942 16% 12% AUDI Q3 +26.46% 34,462 27,251 12% 9% MERCEDES-BENZ GLB-CLASS +15.07% 26,677 23,183 9% 8% LINCOLN CORSAIR -13.10% 22,790 26,227 8% 9% BMW X1 +26.71% 18,253 14,405 6% 5% MERCEDES-BENZ GLA-CLASS -43.50% 14,322 25,348 5% 9% CADILLAC XT4 -48.48% 11,579 22,473 4% 8% BMW X2 -11.13% 6,565 7,387 2% 3% INFINITI QX30 -99.32% 1 148 0% 0% TOTAL +2.31% 296,626 289,933
The production disruptions, however, will likely result in a noticeable drop in sales volume during the next several quarters.
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Comments
Three words: MADE IN C H I N A.
Seriously GM
GMGuy
Then it should feel right at home between my neighbors Made in Japan and Made in Korea vehicles.
Why didn’t you mention the cheap crappy Chinese car you drive?
Peter last time I checked Korea was our actual ally in that region. Don’t ever even think about calling the two the same. Especially when we (The US) fought against China in the Korean War to free the Koreans from communism.
It’s even more of a disgrace that GM continuously uses the Buick namesake for a majority of their cars there yet make bland crossovers here. Messed up
Careful I’ve said the same thing before and a few of the haters here won’t like what you just said.
I will not buy a Buick not made in the USA,ever.
Being a General Motors employee l don’t like it but I realize GM is a global manufacturer!
What happened to the Buick Enspire EV, I been waiting for since 2017 ???
Why GM does not build the Envision in the US is beyond me. They would sell a lot more of them and provide needed employment . Then again it’s GM management- in fact that is the why most companies think- half you know what backwards. GM has always thought that way doing things and making decisions that make no sense. Look at what they did to Sabb , Pontiac and Saturn. I think we need to institute new ways of thinking in college business courses. I like the Envison -not too keen on a Chinese made car then again Volvo is owned by a Chinese company and will build cars in S Carolina. That is why I would prefer the Mazda CX 9. I also think that it is a better vehicle for the long run.
I doubt the quality of these chinese made buicks. with regards to volvo building cars in china that they bring back to the US…, I saw an business article last week where several of those chinese made cars that volvo is bringing back to the US are having some major quality control issue and are among the least reliable cars as compared to their peers. Volvo would have been better off if it were able to have stayed under the Ford umbrella. Too bad for them.
I was boycotting China long before it became popular. Couldnt always do it like a electronic blood pressure monitor I NEEDED YEARS AGO but I sure as hell can do it for vehicles.
NO SALE.
There’s more of a demand for the Envision in China (they sell over 100,000 annually there) so it’s cheaper to build it in China and import it to American markets, then it is build it in America and pay more for importing to China
II think that Volvo will be making some vehicles in South Carolina so hopefully the quality will be good. At least when Ford owned Volvo they did not ruin the brand as GM did with Saab
Saab unfortunately lived off the table scraps of the GM table for many years. The reality is, they didn’t know what to do with it and the brand suffered. Although GM was having issues already financially at that point. Mismanaged for sure. Still enjoy my 9-3 Aero though. Volvo lives another day. Saab takin out behind the barn. Oh well.
Beautiful classic design that makes me wonder why GM even tries to rehabilitate Cadillac except price point and the fact that many do not view Buick as a luxury brand.
Even Ford saves it’s best for China: Evos and new Mondeo that will not be sold in the US. The two remaining Domestics do not feel pressure to outshine rivals but bust ass abroad. As for chips the Defense Production Act should call for US made supply within 12 months. There would be no stalling at wartime and we must be readying for Taiwan to disappear.