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Buick Delivers Peace of Mind at the Gas Pump

A new update to Marketplace, the industry’s first in-vehicle commerce platform, brings ExxonMobil’s pay for fuel functionality right to the infotainment screen of eligible Buick vehicles. This service allows drivers to pay for fuel from their vehicle without swiping their credit card or using their smartphone. The platform also automatically syncs drivers to their ExxonMobil Speedpass+™ app account, and drivers accumulate rewards points with each purchase. The new service is available at more than 11,000 Exxon or Mobil stations across the United States.

“Our goal with Marketplace is to help make everyday tasks as easy as possible for our customers so they can focus on enjoying time spent in their vehicles,” said Rick Ruskin, Marketplace Line of Business leader, Buick. “Bringing the ExxonMobil pay for fuel functionality right on the touchscreen of our vehicles is the latest advancement of this platform, allowing drivers to easily access Speedpass+ and securely pay for gas while inside their car.”

This service is ExxonMobil’s first fully embedded in-vehicle fuel payment offering and requires fewer steps than other fuel payment features on the market. To use the platform to pay at the pump, users will first press the ExxonMobil icon within Marketplace, which identifies the station location. The driver will be prompted to select the pump number and confirm their payment method. The pump will be activated and they can start fueling.

2019 Regal Avenir Offers Sleek, Versatile Luxury

With the addition of the Regal Avenir — the fourth Buick globally to get an Avenir trim in less than a year — the momentum behind Buick’s highest expression of luxury continues to grow. Since its introduction last fall, Enclave Avenir has set the pace for Avenir, selling faster than all other Enclave trims and comprising 20 percent of total Enclave sales in the United States. A similar story is unfolding for the new LaCrosse, where Avenir is selling 70 percent faster than other trim levels.

“Avenir sales have exceeded our expectations,” said Phil Brook, vice president, Buick and GMC Marketing. “Buick customers value the exclusive styling, premium features and convenient experience Avenir provides, and we are excited to extend that successful formula to Regal.”

Half of all Regal Sportback buyers are choosing the top trim level, and within the midsize car segment demand is growing for more premium vehicles. Over the past four years, demand has risen 30 percent for midsize cars priced from $30,000 to $40,000, reflecting the increasing customer demand for more luxury, convenience and safety without compromising overall value.

Buick’s Global Momentum Builds Throughout First Quarter

Coming off a strong 2017, Buick momentum continued into 2018’s first quarter with global sales up 9 percent year over year. This growth comes as new products such as the LaCrosse Avenir and updated Envision have begun arriving to customers globally, and amid the launch of an all-new family of Regals. Demand for the Regal has grown rapidly in China since the new model launched last summer, with sales up 35 percent year over year, while Regal Sportback, GS and TourX (U.S. only) availability continues to ramp up in North America.

Buick’s family of three SUVs fueled the brand’s first-quarter growth, with Encore sales surging in the U.S. and Canada and strong Enclave sales in Mexico. Encore had its best retail sales quarter ever in the U.S., and Encore retail sales were up 32 percent year over year in Canada. The 2018 Enclave launch momentum continues to build, bringing in a growing number of new Buick customers and more affluent customers in the first quarter, with U.S. average transaction prices (ATPs) up more than $5,000 year over year. Total Enclave sales in North America were up 8 percent year over year in the first quarter.

Enclave’s shift upward in the market demonstrates the early popularity of Avenir, Buick’s new luxury sub-brand. More than 22 percent of Enclave North American retails sales have been Avenir models. An Avenir variant of the GL8 is also showing early success in China, while the LaCrosse Avenir just entered the market globally.

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