SAIC-GM, the main joint venture of General Motors in China in charge of manufacturing and marketing the Buick, Cadillac and Chevrolet brands in the local market, announced that its vehicle exports have just surpassed the 1,000,000-unit mark in the Asian country.
The automaker achieved the historic milestone of 1,000,000 units exported on Saturday, July 16th, with the loading of a batch of second-generation Buick Envision units at the “Ro-Ro” terminal of the Yantai International Port, the GM Dong Yue plant‘s host city, and where Buick’s compact crossover is manufactured. SAIC-GM ships the model from that Chinese location to North America, supplying the markets of the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The one-million exported vehicle milestone reinforces SAIC-GM’s role as one of the largest manufacturers in China and one of the few automakers that have managed to surpass this mark. This achievement not only captures SAIC-GM’s relentless exploration of expanding its international reach, but also demonstrates the company’s ability to cover the entire chain of businesses that it has continuously forged since its founding 25 years ago.
In October 2001, SAIC-GM officially started its export business by shipping 50 units of the Buick GL10 to the Philippines. That batch of rebadged first-generation full-size MPVs not only represents the company’s first shipment, but also became China’s first export of upper-middle-range cars.
October 2001
Since that first experience, the joint venture continued to work on exporting completed vehicles, powertrains and CKD kit parts to emerging countries in various regions of the world. However, in 2016, SAIC-GM exported vehicles to the US market for the first time with the launch of the first-generation Buick Envision, making a breakthrough by introducing the Chinese-made crossover to a developed market.
SAIC-GM currently exports more than a dozen nameplates to North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Asia and other international markets. The joint venture’s current export products include the second-generation Buick Envision for North America, Chevy Sail/Aveo, Chevy Equinox, Chevy Onix, Chevy Tracker and Chevy Monza (marketed as the Cavalier Turbo in Mexico).
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Comments
I didn’t buy a single one and I never will. The fact that these exist are a huge embarrassment for GM.
When the tariff started, the chinese made Envision was hit with a 25% import duty. Most people figured either: no more availability here or a shift in production to NA? gm asked the government for an exception, but they were declined. The vehicles continue to be imported and gm is paying the 25% duty. Why not assemble here? At the time, then gm executive Dan Ammann, stated “….there is no possible way to build these here” That statement REALLY tells you who (SAIC) is calling the shots and running gm.
So what North American facility has sufficient capacity to handle production for the Envision? And what would the cost be to develop a production line to build this model?
Now, think about the cost to import. It’s probably significantly cheaper for GM to build this in China even with adding the 25% tariff. Keep in mind that the tariff is calculated on what SAIC sells the vehicle to GM for, not on the MSRP of the final sale. So that 25% tariff really may not be that much.
Plus, the Chinese produced Envision is getting very high reliability ratings. Why mess with a good thing, especially when the US made Enclave isn’t receiving quality ratings that are as high.
Any NA production facility that assembles compact or mid-size CUV’s could have added this vehicle to production? Spring Hill? Lansing -Delta? San Luis Potosi? Ramos Arizpe? I’m supposed to believe that NONE of these facilities could do this? Not “overnight” , but within a model year or for the next generation? They could have hired more folks from “here” what an idea!
The reason that they can’t is because……..SAIC is the sole producer of these, they make the decisions.
It makes no sense to add production of this unit to a facility that’s not using the same platform. Cost to integrate is too extensive. The only facility using this platform then is Fairfax. Maybe they don’t have the capacity to produce it?
Building this in China has nothing to do with SAIC controlling where this product is built. You need to stop listening to all the conspiracy theories out there.
No conspiracy theory needed, It came straight from a top gm executive. It could not be assembled here, based on the agreement with SAIC.
So you’re basing this off a former GM employee comment from 7-8 years ago? Conspiracy theory!
Thinking logically, GM anticipated low US volume. They were already far along with developing the 2nd generation of the Envision. Developing tooling for the US model and developing secondary, more local suppliers was cost prohibitive for such a short lifespan. Thus Amman’s statement that building the Envision in the US was not possible.
Building the first generation in the US was absolutely not financially viable. It had nothing to do with SAIC approving it.
What a tool liking your own comments
If you look it up, when the tariff was implemented in 2018, gm applied for exception to the tariff. In early august of 2018, Dan Ammann, who at the time was the president of gm, told reporters that they needed the exception to continue to offer the vehicle “here” and that there was no way to shift production here. The request was declined, but the vehicles have continued to come from China @ 25% tariff.
The second gen (current) Envision could easily have been assembled in Fairfax along side E2XX platform mate the Cadillac XT4. That facility is no where near is capacity, so no problem with that. So why not do it and save the tariff money?? They can’t!!
Lastly, look at the enormous duty gm is paying for these, right now! Even if they get some type of adjustment on cost and the 25% is only say $3000 per car? For 35,000 cars that is more than $100 million in tariff/duty per year! Whatever the actual numbers are they are paying millions to sell these Buicks here simply because they have no choice but to do so based on agreements from SAIC.
Does this SAIC agreement stipulate that GM has to import the Envision regardless how much money it loses?
Reality is, I don’t believe there’s an agreement that stipulates every single Envision must be made by SAIC. Despite the tariff, it’s still more cost effective to build the Envision in China and ship it to the US. The reason for this is that there isn’t sufficient volume to justify creating a new production line in the US.
Hardly an embarrassment! The Buick Envision has swept Consumer Reports and J.D. Power rankings, beating others in its class, including the Audi Q3, the Mercedes GLC, and the Cadillac XT5 as “the best small luxury SUV of 2022.” The Envision offers value, style, quality, and has awards to back it up.
It’s probably an embarrassment to the UAW.
I wanted to buy this SUV for my wife till I saw on the sticker where it is built. I feel it is America first!!! Which also means support Americans!
Goodby to long term parts availability.
The goal of most American manufacturing seems to be to take American money and jobs and ship them to China. A lose-lose for America. There is no balance of trade. American companies are selling out America.
I started to buy when it hit America back then but then I learned it was made in China. I asked the asked the guy is that true, took him 5 minutes to say yes, I said ok…walked away and never looked back. Not buying from a country that wants to kill us and take us over. Not feeding that strategy.
BTW, for you globalist, there are other countries that do business with America that do not want to kill us that sell exactly what China produces that can be purchased and bought instead of licking the their boots and saying you can’t buy anything because it’s all made in China.
I will say, precious metals, high tech countries producing electronics need to buy from China.
But not assembled in China. Unlike this vehicle and the proposed green products like solar panels and wind turbines…
Buy American as first option but there are other alternatives/countries other than the CCP…