General Motors operates a vast, global manufacturing network, with its facilities in South Korea playing a pivotal role. Indeed, among the vehicles that General Motors manufactures in South Korea is a quartet of crossovers known internally as the “GM Korean Four.” These budget-friendly models include the Buick Encore GX, Buick Envista, Chevy Trailblazer, and Chevy Trax, all of them assembled in South Korea and exported for sale in the United States. Now, however, the affordability of the Korean Four may be impacted by new tariffs enacted by the Trump administration.
Taken as a whole, the Korean Four constitute a significant slice of The General’s U.S. sales, accounting for 123,614 units sold during the first quarter of 2025 alone, or 17.8 percent of General Motors’ U.S. vehicle deliveries during that time period. The quartet’s affordability, compact size, and feature-rich content make them particularly attractive to younger, budget-conscious consumers.
Production of the Korean Four is split between two facilities. Notably, the Chevy Trax is now built exclusively at the GM Changwon Plant, which previously produced the Chevy Spark. After wrapping up production of the first-generation Trax and discontinuing the Spark in 2022, GM launched the second-generation 2024 Chevy Trax at Changwon, with the first unit rolling off the line on February 24th, 2023.
The remaining three members of the Four (Chevy Trailblazer, Buick Encore GX, and Buick Envista) are produced at the GM Bupyeong Plant in Incheon, South Korea. Bupyeong has long been a central hub for GM Korea, previously handling production for earlier generations of the Trax and the now-discontinued Buick Encore (not to be confused with the Encore GX, which remains in production).
While the Korean Four play an essential role in GM’s U.S. product strategy, their future may be complicated by new import tariffs implemented by the Trump administration, which recently announced a 25-percent tariff on all vehicles assembled outside the United States. If implemented as planned, the policy could significantly impact the pricing and competitiveness of these Korean-built crossovers.
For now, the Korean Four look to continue to deliver volume and value in a segment where affordability is key. However, new trade policy developments will be crucial to monitor as GM evaluates how best to maintain its competitive position.
Comments
Even if the tariff policy is going to be implemented, GM headquarters will continue to keep GM Korean Four in Korea. They already decide a increasing production plan to GM Korea. According to GM Korea’s press release in April 16, They are confirmed to produce 21,000 more units than they are scheduled to produce in 2025. This news was such a big issue that it was reported very quickly in the Korean media.
As GM fans, we really don’t need a lesson on what the Korean Four are because we already know. But tariffs could significantly crimp sales of all four…maybe more so than less price-sensitive models.
Good old Dump and his stupid tariffs. The Trax and Trailblazer are both very popular even in my small rural town. (under 10,000 population) Affordability and a quality product are their big selling points, but Dump will soon kill the sales for them not only in my small town but all over the country. I find it telling that Fox and the WSJ are showing THEIR polls show that a majority of the people in the US are against Dump’s handling of the economy and his idiotic tariffs.
You race1st? You must h@+e Koreans and Japanese. You must think they’re so $tupid with all their tarrifs on us! The reason Toyota sells more cars than GM globally is because protectionism. They sell almost as many Toyotas in Japan as they do in the US because of all their tarrifs, and that’s in a country less than 1/3rd our population and has massive public transportation. Ahhhh yes, I remember in school, we need to be more like the Asians, but now that we really are adopting their trade policies, we’re still stupid. Maybe you just h@+e Americans cause nothing we ever do will make you think better of us. That’s fine! At least I know where you stand little man!
I’m glad you could be so original and creative and use ‘dump’ instead of ‘Trump’.
Most exelonta. dump instead of trump. Forgot to mention “RUMP” instead of you know who. Who may or not need a special doctor. You know what I mean.
Not to suggest “PROCTOLIGIST”> Of course not. Sarcasm. You think so??
Dat Anonymous. Sure knows how cover his or her “BACK SIDE”.
Can you dig it man.?? Must be a PHYCITRIST.
So sales will just shift to the US made equinox, and Toyota Corolla. The Nox which is now well placed given the other Korean brands are also going to be under the same restriction, will pick up tons of sales. What none of these reports take into consideration is that the market will readjust. GM would be wise to immediately restart Malibu production in Missouri and look at opening lordstown.
We get the Trax due to the fact that Koreans buy 300,000 of them every year (this class of car is their version of our pickup truck, massive volume sales) and we get it just as a benefactor of that massive economy of scale.
Course, the Koreana could fix this tomorrow, and start importing equinoxes this balecing our trade deficit. Don’t know why it’s our problem that their screwing us. Sounds like a them problem to me.
The Equinox is made in Mexico. More tarrifs on a budget car