During the brand’s dedicated 2025 Buick Brand Day event, General Motors unveiled an all-new architecture and the Electra sub-brand for Buick New Energy Vehicles (NEV).
The automaker’s SAIC-GM joint venture unveiled its new Buick “super architecture” for next-generation vehicles, called “Xiao Yao,” and the Electra sub-brand for premium NEV vehicles. Both solutions will include models with various electrified powertrains, enabling them to meet customer demands and span the multiple NEV categories in the Chinese market.
“At the 2025 Buick Brand Day in Shanghai, Buick unveiled the next-generation super architecture ‘Xiao Yao’ and Electra, a new sub-brand for its premium new energy vehicles (NEVs),” said GM China in a statement. “With the launch of Xiao Yao and Electra, Buick will further sharpen its focus on premium NEVs in China. In the next 12 months, Buick will launch six NEV models based on the all-new Xiao Yao architecture,” the company added.
In this regard, SAIC-GM announced that the all-new Xiao Yao architecture was designed by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) specifically for the local Chinese market and is the new structural foundation for next-generation vehicles that integrates technologies in four key areas: propulsion, chassis, intelligent driver assistance, and smart cabin tech. The structure offers high flexibility to accommodate various body styles, drivetrain types, and powertrains.
In fact, the manufacturer describes the flexibility of the Xiao Yao architecture as 3x3x3, allowing for a wide range of body styles, including MPVs, SUVs, and sedans with front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive. It also supports various NEV solutions, such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs). This foundation was developed by combining GM’s global expertise with its local expertise.
Meanwhile, the Electra sub-brand will evolve to not only focus on fully electric vehicles, but will offer a complete premium NEV proposition with greater range, in addition to increasing its presence within Buick, with future vehicles carrying the Electra name on the body as the main branding. From now on, all new vehicles launched by Buick in China will be NEVs.
Buick unveiled three concept cars in MPV, crossover, and sedan body styles as a preview of the first production NEVs featuring the Xiao Yao architecture and the reinforced Electra sub-brand, which will be launched soon. The family will rapidly grow to six Electra NEVs within 12 months and cover all major market segments in just two years. The three models are the all-new luxury Encasa MPV and two brand-new Sedan and crossover “precursor” vehicles.
Comments
Seems like GM is uncoupling its Chinese market EVs from GM’s global BEV3 (formerly Ultium) architecture. I imagine that will allow engineers to be more nimble to keep up a little better with the likes of BYD.
Alex, do you think these new Chinese models are for the U.S., too, or will we get some variation of them or something totally different? Like, do you think the Electra GS could come here? Do you think that Electra SUV will replace the Envision? Thank you.
I know what the rest comments will look like. But all I want to say first is that V8 pick-up trucks in North America versus Eletectric MPV in China. It’s just lifestyle difference. Eat Sushi or Burger, no right or wrong.
That’s exactly what GM is trying to do. You can have your V8 or diesel pick up truck or SUV and others can have their EV pick up trucks or SUV. As you are saying, it’s just life style difference, no right or wrong.
The hostility of some comments on this site is just over the top sometimes. Some old timers over here are really too much anchored in the past.
Here in the good ol US of A, we can only wish for plans such at this for the once great Buick brand.
Instead, we get 3.5 crossovers and 0.5 sedan like thing (Envista being the half crossover and half sedan). And not one in EV.
Back in 2022 the plan was that Buick would introduce the Electra brand in the United States in 2024 and be exclusively electric by 2030.
After the IRA introduced tax credits with sourcing requirements that plan was quietly scrapped.
Sparky, how do you like the Envista sketches shared by GM Design on Instagram? I think Buick will introduce an EV this year or next (most sources say it will be the E5 and I note that someone told me that the E4 is gone from their Chinese website.
@Christopher: Not sure if I saw those pics. I’m not a Facebook or Instagram or Tictok person.
However, I do like the current (on sale) Envista. Problem? I just can’t do gas cars any more. Even if I could convince myself to go back, the Envista (and Trax) are both nice cars and all. But, the combined average of 30 MPG is just stupid low for what you have. Going way back to 1994, my wife and I ordered a brand new 1994 Buick Skylark Custom sedan with the 4 speed OD auto and 4 cyl. Even back then with a little bigger car and a 4 cyl and 4 speed we got better MPG than 30 combined. So for me to consider the Envista now, they need to make it EV or PHEV with over 50 MPG combined.
I was just thinking that General Motors abandoned new fuel efficient motors. Mazda Skyactiv Z, sold everywhere except US, gets 50mpg without a hybrid because it’s built like a diesel sipping 87 octane. My GM problem is start/stop and use of CVTs.
GM, because of China, has access to so much technology yet sells turbo charged 3bangers
If they don´t sell the sedan in America or Europe, then I´m not interested. A SUV or a crossover, I will never buy.
GM is focusing everything for China and the Asian market. Here in the US all we get are box on box CUV’s, CUV’s and mall crawler pickups.
We need a full-sized luxury sedan like an Electra 225 and Cadillac CT6. Make them an ICE with a real engine, not a 4 banger turbo. An Impala would be great also.
If it is an EV, crossover or a middle or small car, count me out. I have had 10 Cadillacs since 2002, a Corvette and an Oldsmobile. None of them a CUV or SUV. I’m shopping now for a Genesis or a Mercedes to replace one of the Cadillacs. I won’t buy a CT5 or CT4 as they are just too small to accommodate full-sized adults in the back seat. Currently have a 2020 CT6 Premium Luxury and love it. China got the 2nd gen CT6…any guesses where the GM stand is?
Americans have been rejecting Buick for years–especially sedans like Regal and Lacrosse) but Chinese like the brand. GM isn’t favoring China. GM wants to earn a profit and, unfortunately, Americans LOVE ugly MVPs, CUV and large SUV Suburban body types.
Buick has to do this because Chinese auto manufacturers like GWM Chery BYD and others have been killing them. Lower case gm have to seriously consider large luxury Buick EV sedan and midsized EV crossover for the Chinese market to stay competitive.
Meanwhile in Buick’s home country it sells only 4 crossovers, one of which is actually made in the US.
The Great Chinese Road Belongs to Buick!
You get that, until Envista and the new shark face, only the elderly bought Buick in US with total sales only being like 200,000 a year. China is the only reason why we even still have Buick when Pontiac was more popular during bankruptcy.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll just keep my 1978 Electra Limited with a 403 and a 400 turbohydro. That is a real car and a real Buick.
Btw that paint color is gorgeous, how come we never get this on production vehicles 🙁
Buick is using the same marketing scheme from the 1930″s when they had sub brand Marquette which didn’t last very long. How soon before Cadillac brings back the LaSalle as a sub brand?
Hoping this could mean that Buick in China gets decoupled from Buick USA. Let the China market have the EVs, and US to get gas and hybrid.
Introducing the “Melted – Look” and Buick showroom near you. Soo generic with no emotion.
Hey Duane, you mean Generic Non emotional by Design? As the new tag line.
Dropping Ultium trade name in favor of BEV3 suprised me but I assumed this was about partnering with Hyandai. I read about an Ultium 2 in development and now this new pplatform.Evidently Ultium can’t compete with BYD or Tesla?