GM is no longer shipping U.S.-built vehicles to China through its premium import platform, The Durant Guild. The move was prompted by ongoing trade volatility between the U.S. and China amid new tariffs implemented by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, The Durant Guild is now undergoing a thorough reorganization, with hundreds of employees reportedly laid off.
Previously, The Durant Guild imported the following U.S.-built vehicles for sale in the Chinese market:
The Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon are produced at the General Motors Arlington plant in Texas, the Chevy Corvette is produced at the General Motors Bowling Green plant in Kentucky, the GMC Hummer EV is produced at the General Motors Factory Zero plant in Michigan, and the Cadillac Celestiq is assembled by hand at the General Motors Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.
Notably, the Chinese-spec Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon are equipped with the TurboMax 2.7L I4 L3B gasoline engine, a powertrain option that isn’t available in the U.S. Meanwhile, U.S.-spec models offer a pair of gasoline-powered V8s, including the naturally aspirated 5.3L L84 and naturally aspirated 6.2L L87, as well as the 3.0L I6 LZ0 turbodiesel Duramax.
General motors has is now reorganizing The Durant Guild import business in response to the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China.
“Imported car sales account for less than one thousandth of GM’s total sales in China,” GM China said in a statement. “Due to significant changes in the economic situation, the company decided to reorganize The Durant Guild’s import business and optimize GM’s operations in China accordingly.”
Chinese media report that roughly 200 employees were laid off in the reorganization efforts. Some sources also report that The Durant Guild will continue to deliver all remaining units of the Chinese-spec Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon while supplies last, and that customers who purchased the full-size SUVs would receive after-sales service. However, newly opened Durant Guild stores are now expected to close, while future store openings are expected to be canceled.
Comments
While I can’t buy one here, I sure would like to test drive it. Just put the full power 2.7 liter L3B in it.
Bust out the “rickshaws” !
So where are these “Durant guild” employees based that have been laid off ? China or the U.S. ? 200 employees is a lot different than “hundreds” in your exaggeration that infers a lot more than 200 were laid off. The Chinese Communist government is the direct cause of this with their incredibly unfair tariffs on U.S. goods.