No Buick Dealer Buyouts Planned In Canada, Says GM
4
Sponsored Links
As GM makes its transition to an all-electric portfolio, dealers are faced with a decision to either follow suit and invest in EVs, or opt out altogether. Buick dealers in the U.S., for example, will have the option for a buyout as an alternative to investing in the brand’s upcoming EV models. However, no such buyout is planned for Buick’s Canadian dealers.
In a recent interview with Automotive News Canada, GM Canada President Marissa West addressed possible buyout plans for those Canadian Buick dealers that elect not to make the transition to EVs. According to West, there is currently no plan to offer Canadian Buick dealers a buyout, with the GM executive pointing out that the makeup of Canadian dealers differs from U.S. dealers in that there are no standalone Buick stores in Canada. However, while West says that GM is not currently planning any Canadian Buick dealer buyouts, those dealers that do “raise their hand” for one would be considered.
As GM Authority covered previously, Buick dealers in the U.S. that elect not to invest in the chargers, maintenance equipment, and training required to sell future Buick EV models will receive a buyout offer, with Buick brand boss Duncan Aldred previously indicating that the offer would be extended to all 2,000 franchised U.S. dealers. Aldred declined to say how many dealers may accept the offer.
A similar buyout deal was extended to franchised Cadillac dealers in 2020 in advance of the launch of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, which reduced the number of U.S. stores from 900 to roughly 564. Dealers were previously informed of a six-figure investment required to support tooling, charging stations, and employee training.
Buick currently does not offer any battery-electric models in North America. That said, Buick recently announced its new brand identity and a new logo, as well as plans to go fully electric across its entire portfolio by 2030. The first all-electric Buick model is set to launch in 2024.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Buick news, GM business news, GM electric vehicle news, GM technology news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Concidering potential profits, perhaps the franchisor (GM) should kick in some $$$$$
N0 worries as BUick is going 100% EV and I will never buy one or own one…..No good in the cold weather and batteries are minimal. Price is over anything I would spend on a car? and trade in in 5 years will be very low….Never mind repairs…Be dealer only and good luck if it’s an electrial problem. Buick will be dead in the water in 5/7 years
I see EV models in all Makes winding up like the Saturn, slow selling, no selection, till GM comes to it’s sense’s.
Whether Electric cars can do what our gas cars have done in the past is debatable. But electric cars are coming. And they’re going to take over the market. Will they suffer from less range the winter, probably. Will they ever go as far on a charge as our gas cars, probably not.
But if we want to keep traveling around, we’d better get used to them and they will improve. Car companies are very good at making huge improvements to stay competitive.
I’m much more worried about the state of the World then I am with electric cars taking over from gas cars.