Shanghai GM sees sales up more than 20% in 2007 as it rolls out new Buick Park Avenue

[Ming]

Compare to:
Projecting Flat US Sales, Buick Calls '07 a "Transitional" Year
Buick is fading fast in the U.S.; Buick sold 15% fewer vehicles in 2006 than it did in 2005 in the U.S.
Buick selling 40% less vehicles in 2006 (240000 U.S. sales) than it did in 2000
All Buick U.S. hopes pinned on Enclave
- Ming

Shanghai GM sees sales up more than 20 pct in 2007, rolls out new Buick Park Avenue
04.10.07
AFX News Limited



BEIJING (AFX) - General Motors Corp joint venture Shanghai GM expects to see sales climb more than 20 pct this year, Shanghai GM executive vice president Chris Gubbey said.

He made the projection as the company unveiled its first new model of the year, a top of the line Buick sedan, the Buick Park Avenue.

'We can expect it (sales growth) to be over 20 pct,' Gubbey said in response to questions by reporters.

Shanghai GM, a joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Co Ltd, sold a total of over 410,000 vehicles last year. Sales in the first quarter of this year were up 26.5% at 113,768 units.

The executive said that Shanghai GM will produce 6,000 of the Buick Park Avenues this year, and all of the output is aimed at the China market.

Source: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/...fx3597881.html

Chinese Buick Park Avenue Thread w/more Photos

[HEVguy]

Sales and product are definitely looking up for GM in the Chinese market! I really hope they can translate that to some US Buick success, sometime soon would be nice also. The main Buick I'd 'aspire' to own right now is the Enclave. Otherwise, the other US models don't do enough to draw me in emotionally.

[Ming]

Compare to:
Projecting Flat US Sales, Buick Calls '07 a "Transitional" Year
Buick is fading fast in the U.S.; Buick sold 15% fewer vehicles in 2006 than it did in 2005 in the U.S.
Buick selling 40% less vehicles in 2006 (240000 U.S. sales) than it did in 2000
All Buick U.S. hopes pinned on Enclave

Love that someone quoted this photo as the source of US Buick's sales woes in the Park Ave. thread. So appropriate:



I don't buy that a mechanical twin of the Acadia sold on the same dealership lots is going to do much to reverse the problem.

Buick's problem is that it takes no risks and restyles existing Chevies, Pontiacs and now GMC's with actually very little exclusive content in the interiors aside from QuietTuning, and expects people to flock to them on styling. The whole philosophy and approach is wrong. Why not buy an Impala over a LaCrosse? The engine has been more frequently updated in the base model and has more power despite less displacement. The Impala offers a ton of options in many different trim levels such as flip&fold seating, and E-85 capability.

Buick needs an injection of something new. And it isn't getting that from a restyled Acadia or after that a restyled Epsilon II Malibu.

"Beyond Pathetic" is more like it.

[sigma]

Anyone also notice how GM Shanghai's photography and diagrams and skematics don't suck like the GMNA ones due?

[Aromanances]

Why can't China get the thawed out left overs and America get the new updated stuff???????? Can someone from GMI find this out.

[Media!]

Oh Wow, look at that, great products with fantastic styling inside and out sell? Who'd of fricking thought? Gm North America obviously didn't

What Does buick get here? A complete POS lacrosse and a Dull boring, mediocra Lucerne with an interior design that gets put to shame by a fricking Aveo. Then for what they consider Buick's "Breakout Year" The get a new grill and two super version of two bad cars no one wants to begin with.

No wonder sales are approaching a 50% drop in 5 years.

The only brightside is the Enclave, but one tahoe sized crossover will not stop Buick's slide into oblivion.

[Jkujo]

Originally Posted by Media!

Oh Wow, look at that, great products with fantastic styling inside and out sell? Who'd of fricking thought? Gm North America obviously didn't

What Does buick get here? A complete POS lacrosse and a Dull boring, mediocra Lucerne with an interior design that gets put to shame by a fricking Aveo. Then for what they consider Buick's "Breakout Year" The get a new grill and two super version of two bad cars no one wants to begin with.

No wonder sales are approaching a 50% drop in 5 years.

The only brightside is the Enclave, but one tahoe sized crossover will not stop Buick's slide into oblivion.

I have been critical of Buick saying that this is the "Breakout Year" as well. I think that what they were referring to as the Break out was a "Global" break out. Of course the most profitable market in the world is left out in the cold on that one. That makes so much sense! About as much as me saying: "I think I'll go buy more GM stock!"

[Aromanances]

It is Buick's break out YEAR, it really is. The rest of the world gets to experience the birth of Buick as a world class brand! We Americans get the afterbirth. Did anyone at GM for one second consider putting a 3800 and four speed in the Chines Buick's? Did they for one minute consider using the 20 year old gm10 platform. GM clearly feels that is is good enough for NA but totally unacceptable for the third world.

[steverino]

Hey GM, WAKE UP, stop peddling inferior products to the US market. It's the product stupid, and China has it

[doppleganger]

Originally Posted by Jkujo

I have been critical of Buick saying that this is the "Breakout Year" as well. I think that what they were referring to as the Break out was a "Global" break out. Of course the most profitable market in the world is left out in the cold on that one. That makes so much sense! About as much as me saying: "I think I'll go buy more GM stock!"

Maybe they mean ''Breakout Year'' as in breaking out of the US GM fold and into oblivion like ldsmobile.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by Ming

"Beyond Pathetic" is more like it.

Excellent!!! Right now that describes the entire Buick Line up. The Enclave is the lone bright spot on Buick's horizon.

[tgagneguam]

As long as the percentage increases for GM are outpacing the percentage increases for the China auto industry, then I'm definitely pleased.

Again, that Park Ave is what I think the Lucerne shoulda/coulda been. Maybe we'll just have to make due with the G8 variant of the Commodore in early '08?! I don't think that that'll be such a bad thing.

[mkaresh]

The Lucerne CXS isn't bad.

GM feels that Americans aren't willing to pay for the good stuff. That's why we don't get it.

I think the 3500 and four-speed automatics do go into at least some LaCrosses over there. That's why the Equinox's engine is sourced from China.

There was also a headline today or yesterday that GM was third in the most recent Chinese sales stats, down from first. Chery rose to #1. So all is not roses for GM in China. 6,000 Park Avenues a year is not a significant number.

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Jkujo

I have been critical of Buick saying that this is the "Breakout Year" as well. I think that what they were referring to as the Break out was a "Global" break out. Of course the most profitable market in the world is left out in the cold on that one. That makes so much sense! About as much as me saying: "I think I'll go buy more GM stock!"

Breakout as in a rash, or more appropriately, perhaps, shingles.

[Ming]

Mkaresh, off topic but, are you going to update your "Most Popular Price Comparisons" page soon? Previous 90 days, last updated January 1

Cheers,
-Ming