Ten days after unveiling Buick’s electric crossover in the Asian country, General Motors has officially launched the refreshed 2026 Buick Electra E5 in China.
SAIC-GM, the automaker’s main joint venture in China, launched the refreshed 2026 Buick Electra E5 in the domestic market with multiple upgrades spanning design, interior, technology features, and a new, higher-capacity battery pack. The updated 2026 Electra E5 also debuts more aggressive positioning that improves its competitiveness in the all-electric crossover segment dominated by Chinese brands.
“Buick today announced the launch of the refreshed Electra E5, a pure electric mid-size SUV designed to deliver enhanced safety, comfort, and intelligent performance,” said GM China in a statement. “Featuring 47 user-driven upgrades, the new Electra E5 continues to set benchmarks in space, luxury, and long-term value retention. Is available in three variants, offering a maximum EV range of up to 620 km,” the company added.
Specifically, the refreshed 2026 Buick Electra E5 launches in the Chinese market with a three-trim lineup configured in First Edition, Smart, and Premium trim levels. All three come standard with a comprehensive suite of class-leading technology and safety features, including the latest version of Buick’s infotainment system with SAIC-GM’s first AI voice assistant.
Technically, the main new feature for the 2026 Buick Electra E5 is a new 76.8 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack developed in conjunction with CATL, offering a range of 620 km or 385 miles. Buick claims the new cells enable full-life fast charging and a 30-percent charge speed increase, with an advanced seven-layer protection system that exceeds IP68/IP6K9K standards for dust and water resistance.
The refreshed 2026 Buick Electra E5 is now available for sale at authorized Buick dealerships in China, the only country in the world where the crossover is exclusively manufactured and sold. In addition to the equipment and powertrain upgrades, the 2026 Electra E5 arrives with more strategic market positioning and a more comprehensive warranty, elevating its position as one of the most competitive crossovers in its segment.
Here are the prices for the refreshed 2026 Buick Electra E5 in China:
- 2026 Electra E5 First Edition: 149,900 yuan (about $20,850 USD at the current exchange rate)
- 2026 Electra E5 Smart: 159,900 yuan ($22,250 USD)
- 2026 Electra E5 Premium: 169,900 yuan ($23,650 USD)
Comments
Well, Too bad this Buick is not available in southern California. They could sell a few. Trump needs to add another 100% Tarriff on Chinese components though
This vehicle would sell very well here.
I’s not a Buick it’s SAIC through and through. Keep it over there.
This is on BEV3. Same architecture as the Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq.
Only real difference is some styling and the 85KWh NCMA pack in North America is a 77 KWh LFP pack in China. It likely uses the same battery format as GM’s battery architecture is chemistry agnostic.
That’s not an Electra. It’s juat anoche abominable SUV
385 miles on CATL or real miles? Crazy cheap over there. Good looking vehicle.
Chinese testing methodology.
Considering that that this is basically the same SWB BEV3 as the Equinox EV and Optiq EV. My guess: Equinox EV FWD EPA rated range of 319 miles on 85KWh.
So this uses 77KWh. 319*77/85=289 EPA or 462kms. This is assuming that the 77KWh is usable like the 85KWh is on the Equinox EV.
Who cares? We’ll never see anything but crappy little SUVs here. How about a real Buick?
it a 100 % Wuling, it should have been called Wuling Wire. Buicjk is as dead as Pontiac or Orldsmobile or Staurn
Actually 0% Wuling. The Buick brand is under SAIC-GM, not SAIC-GM-Wuling.
as design it is 100 % Wuling. Buick ended on 2010. it is not even Electra which ended really 1990, Pontiac finished 2010 Oldsmobile finished 2004 Saturn finished 2010 amd Buck finished 2020 since then GM is only GMC which has Chevrolet Wuling as Brand, and this car is Wuling, Really saying Cadillac finished at 2010 probably
Again, Wuling is not part of SIAC-GM, nor does it hold an ownership stake, and the E5 is a refresh, so likely still GM’s global BEV3 platform (albeit with a different battery pack).
But even if this was an update to the new Xiao Yao platform, that was developed at the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center operated by SIAC and GM. Wuling is wholly uninvolved.
Guangxi Auto (previously Wuling Group) is actually the minority owner in SGMW, at only 5.9% ownership to GM’s 44%.
as said, for me is a Wuling Character, if as you said to Siac or not do not mind it is chinese wuling
sincere studying GM at wiki you see many brands are former maybe 20, and Buick since long as Cadillac joined the list.
but it is ok lets say because of CT4 and CT5 Cadillac finished at 2025
This is on SWB BEV3. Same architecture as the Equinox EV and Cadillac Optiq.
Only real difference is some styling and the 85KWh NCMA pack in North America is a 77 KWh LFP pack in China. It likely uses the same battery format as GM’s battery architecture is chemistry agnostic.
so all wulings
I gotta say that a lot of the virtue-signalling old ladies on my block are just champing at the bit waiting for a Buick EV but the previous announcement of a US model was vaporware. Why?
Because the Inflation Reduction Act made it uneconomical to import EVs from China (due to restrictions on the tax rebate) and the regulatory barriers have only gotten worse since.