2019 Buick Envision
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
The reason the Envision was brought over from China was because the Buick brand didn't have anything to offer between the compact Encore and full size Enclave. Its Chevy and GMC siblings did.
It doesn't matter about all that other stuff about discounts or value etc. GM is a gigantic corporation, they know all this stuff and they know where their money comes from. It's just some extra dollars from sales in the US anyway.
It doesn't matter about all that other stuff about discounts or value etc. GM is a gigantic corporation, they know all this stuff and they know where their money comes from. It's just some extra dollars from sales in the US anyway.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: RightHere
I didn't know that Mary Barra and the GM board of directors participated on CL's Club Chat. Running a multi-billion dollar corp on the basis of the pluses and minuses of one singular vehicle in the Buick lineup that is the measure of profitability? Lol.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
GM is pretty good across their range. They are not the leader they once were. Their market share in NA was once 5-7 million plus in the 80s and 90s. Even higher in 70s. They now sell about as much as Toyota does around 3.5 million. They have been in decline for a long time. They do not make the profit Toyota does.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: RightHere
GM is pretty good across their range. They are not the leader they once were. Their market share in NA was once 5-7 million plus in the 80s and 90s. Even higher in 70s. They now sell about as much as Toyota does around 3.5 million. They have been in decline for a long time. They do not make the profit Toyota does.
GM makes its domestic money on pickup trucks and BoF SUVs in terms of profit margins, and on domestic car based crossovers. GM on those, does it on volume and MSRP games.
But given, it's a global corporation, Buick is the big brand in China and that's where the Envision has sold really well since 2014. Bringing it here is simply a function of filling a slot and getting some extra awareness of a midsize CUV in the Buick brand.
If you look at Envision numbers in China, they are huge. So as Bitkahuna pointed out, this is about China not the US.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
All that, of course, could change if Trump gets the 35% tariff he wants on American-badged vehicles sold here that are built overseas. He campaigned on that in 2016, but has not really said much about it since.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Aug 2006
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From: Illinois
Last year Buick sold 41,040 Envisions in the U.S. (3420 per month), probably more in China. In January they sold 2,487. Whether that's good or bad can be debated but that is sizeable U.S. volume for a division like Buick
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: ON/NY
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,521
Likes: 261
From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
The Encore is still their bread-and-butter, hands, down....it now accounts for one-third of all U.S. market Buick sales. I've never liked the Encore's choppy looks, and consider it underpowered, but I can understand its huge popularity....reasonable price, plush interior, quietness/refinement, AWD versatility, trim size for easy parking/manuverability, and good space efficiency for its size. I'll be surprised if Envision sales, here in the U.S., reach that of the Encore. I'm not saying it won't (or can't) happen....but only that I would be surprised if it does.
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Lexus Champion
Joined: Jul 2013
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From: RightHere
Yes, it is. Because apparently buyers of the Envision disagree with your opinion. 25% discount on a semi-premium product? Why would I pay more for something just because I think someone else is selling something in the same category for more money? Am I someone who carelessly tosses my money into the fireplace, or do I look at options and figure out what my threshold point is?
I think the accountants at Buick see the cost of manufacturing and shipping into the US from China, and happily tell dealers that 25% off is not a bad discount. What does the GM factory worker make in Detroit vs China? I'd say you can happily offer steep discounts without harming your "brand".
Whether something is made in China and a moral issue about country of manufacturer is going to lead you into a rabbit hole. Where is your smartphone, tablet or tv made?
Last edited by MattyG; Feb 24, 2018 at 06:14 PM.
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Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,489
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From: ON/NY
That is interesting. I love the new Discovery. Everything about it. Just such a nice design. Buick does not have anything that stacks up to a Disco. Well done to your aunt👍
Lexus Champion
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Canada
Each assembly line requires a minimum number of vehicles to justify the cost; building a line and running below minimum capacity costs more money than the vehicles sold would bring in -- in other words, it would be a negative return on investment. GM, as a business, has figured out that they can make money by selling Buick Envisions built and imported from China but could not make money building them here.
also, your loathing of cars made in china is just flat racist in the end. Why is it ok to you for a car to be made in japan but not china?
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 94,521
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From: Virginia/D.C. suburbs
How is it "racist" to favor a car made in one Far-East Asian country over another...or, for that matter, even in South Korea? Seems to me like that is more of an issue of nationality than race.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 35,489
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From: ON/NY
I would be all over it. If a Chinese brand wants to export a Chinese made car to the US, that is fine. If that same Chinese brand wants to instead build the car in the US or Canada, then that is even more fine.
Last edited by Toys4RJill; Feb 24, 2018 at 08:17 PM.