Buick Sells Four Times As Many Cars In China As In U.S

Yahoo News ^ | January 8, 2014 | Anthony Ingram

[lbryce]

For the second time in its 110-year history, Buick has topped one million sales in a year--and set a new overall record in the process. Last year saw the marque shift 1,032,056 vehicles, beating the company's last million-sale year in 1984, when it sold 1,003,345 cars. Whereas that 1984 volume was largely down to North America, Buick's current prosperity is largely influenced by a different country: China. Of those million-plus sales, a full 809,918 cars were sold in the Chinese market, nearly four times as many cars as the 205,509 units sold in the U.S. market.

Buick is just one of several large automakers enjoying huge sales booms in the Chinese market, as greater proportions of the population move into the middle classes and have the disposable income to buy new cars. Chinese facilities dodge previously draconian import tax laws and some automakers, like Volvo, are even owned by Chinese firms.

[lbryce]

That's because you need to buy the car first, to find out it's a lemon. GM's products have jut only recently been introduced to China's car market. GM having produced inherently obsolescent products for decades in the US gives us the dubious luxury of knowing which cars to avoid buying.
In the heyday of American economic, manufacturing prowess, it was once a common refrain that What's good for America is good for General Motors and visa versa.
Today, it's more like, GM's Fate is Detroit's Destiny.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

I guess the Chinese do not realize how crappy a car the Buick is.

Frankly, I would rather have my grandfather’s Buick. That car was reliable. The current ones are not so reliable unless you are measuring how you can rely on them to break down.

[Responsibility2nd]

Buick Sells Four Times As Many Cars In China As In U.S

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That’s great. Yessiree.

The next time GM needs a government buyout - let the Chinese handle it.

[bert]

Don’t American women wear Buicks?

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

We send them our crappy cars as revenge for them sending us their crappy.... everything.

[Dr. Sivana]

Actually, the 3800 series is pretty good. I drive a ‘98 Park Ave, and the drive train is great at 185,000. Now, buisances like door handles, electric windows and ashtrays are another matter.

[Responsibility2nd]

Don’t American women wear Buicks?

 

Exclusively. I think its a law someplace. Only women can drive Buicks. Ever seen a man behind the wheel of one of these?

 

Don’t American women wear Buicks?

 

Exclusively. I think its a law someplace. Only women can drive Buicks. Ever seen a man behind the wheel of one of these?

[FAA]

The Chinese have had and continue to have some strange affinity for Buick and I have no idea where it comes from. The only thing that kept Buick alive when Pontiac, Saturn, and, Hummer were all axe was its success in China. They’ve been selling like this over there for years now.

Apparently China’s last emperor owned Buicks and it somehow achieved a oversized reputation for luxury as a result. The Chinese look at them like affordable MBs.

[Gay State Conservative]

I've visited China twice in the last couple of years...both times focusing on the region that's within a 100 mile radius of Hong Kong with Shenzhen and Guangzhou being the two major cities I visited.I can attest to the fact that Buicks are surprisingly common on the streets of those cities.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I guess the Chinese do not realize how crappy a car the Buick is.

For some reason, "Buick" is regarded as a premium brand in China, like "Cadillac" is here. Apparently, this goes back decades.

[Carriage Hill]

“...some automakers, like Volvo, are even owned by Chinese firms.”

Really? Somehow, I missed that one. I remember Jaguar and Land Rover going to India’s Tata Motors, but Volvo to the Chi-Comms? Bummer.

[FreedomGuru]

The Chinese bought more Buicks because the Chinese have more jobs and more money than the USA.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

Can they even pronounce Alero?

[lavaroise]

For some reason Buicks look gangster flashy abroad. In europe they do turn heads. It just is unusual to see a US dinosaure I guess.

[nascarnation]

China passed the US in new car sales in 2009 and is pulling away fast.

For 2013:

China 22m
US 15.6m

Warren Buffet’s BYD plans to start imports to the US in 2015.
http://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/1399934/byd-plans-launch-us-market-next-year

[Irenic]

Isn’t Alero an Olds?

[Impala64ssa]

Even with the retro-looking portholes on the front fenders, BLAHHH! To paraphrase Buick's slogan from the 50's and 60's I'd really rather have THIS Buick

1965 Gran Sport with the old 401ci "nailhead" V-8. Almost bought one many yrs go to rebuild, with a bad motor.

[Mears]

That is one gorgeous automobile.

.

[lbryce]

Yes, it is. Your point that the Chinese wouldn’t need bothering to pronounce ‘Alero’ is an astute observation on your part. No used Olsmobiles need apply for the car market in China.

[FreedomPoster]

That’s borderline cruelty! LOL