2024 Buick Regal Facelift (China Market)

[Roadhawk]

GM has clearly not learned from their bankruptcy. For a few years they built solid well designed vehicles in different styles to satisfy many drivers. Now, however, they offer only SUV’s from Buick and seem determined to bury cars with gasoline engines. In my opinion these will prove to be fatal mistakes.

Unfortunately, Buick sedans (and sedans in general) aren’t nearly as popular as they used to be in the U.S. The last generation U.S. Regal's best sales year was only around 14,000 units and that included the wagon. The last generation U.S. LaCrosse's best sales year was only 20,000 units. Despite lots of competition in the crossover/SUV space, the Encore, Encore GX, Envision and Enclave all did notably better.

So far this year, U.S. Buick sales are up quite a bit versus same period last year. Overall U.S. Buick sales are up 68% with Envision up 153% Encore GX up 110%, and Enclave up 20%. The discontinued Encore's sales are down but the Envista (Encore replacement) is due out soon and should significantly add to Buick's sales numbers.

 

[Roadhawk]

If the dealers would lay off the $10K market adjustment fees I'd bet their sales would be better!

Not necessarily. A reason some independent dealers (and manufacturers or manufactuer/dealers) are or were able to have "market adjustments" is simply because there isn't or wasn’t enough stock available to sell due to supply chain issues, chip shortages, etc. Eliminating market adjustments wouldn't necessarily increase availability and therefore wouldn't necessarily be able to result in increased sales.

 

[D2R]

I saw this morning that VW is drastically reducing their EV production as sales are over 30% below forecast. I have felt for quite awhile that automakers were marching themselves towards a cliff as the demand for EV’s is just not there and there is zero market for used EV’s.
It reminded me of the late 60’s when my dad retired from GM. He had spent 41 years there and had reached the very top management group of the company. He said that GM would go bankrupt because they felt that they could tell consumers what they wanted instead of listening to their customers and designing what the customers wanted.
GM has clearly not learned from their bankruptcy. For a few years they built solid well designed vehicles in different styles to satisfy many drivers. Now, however, they offer only SUV’s from Buick and seem determined to bury cars with gasoline engines. In my opinion these will prove to be fatal mistakes.
In the case of their China market, if they want to drive cars that look like that so be it.

Don't even get me started to talk about how Buick thinks the Envista is a "sedan".

 

[saab93driver]

Don't even get me started to talk about how Buick thinks the Envista is a "sedan".

Not done with my TourX but done with Buick for now. I hope the CT5-V I ordered shows up soon.

 

[Roadhawk]

Don't even get me started to talk about how Buick thinks the Envista is a "sedan".

While they might say things like it has the “riding dynamics of a sedan” or “sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan”, I wouldn't say Buick thinks the Envista is a sedan. They clearly identify it and market it as a “crossover” or “premium crossover” or “small SUV.”

 

[D2R]

While they might say things like it has the “riding dynamics of a sedan” or “sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan”, I wouldn't say Buick thinks the Envista is a sedan. They clearly identify it and market it as a “crossover” or “premium crossover” or “small SUV.”

Not directly from Buick, but still not that far off.
"Envista’s styling is unique, shaped by the design team at Buick to look more like a high-riding sedan."

The 2024 Buick Envista Adds Sedan Styling to a Compact Crossover

Buick expands its crossover-only lineup with an extra dose of style.

www.autoweek.com

"That’s the word from company officials who told us the crossover coupe aims to keep Buick sedan owners in the family."

Buick Aims To Win Over Sedan Buyers With New Envista | Carscoops

Buick has high hopes for the 2024 Envista as they believe the crossover coupe can be a conquest champion for GM

www.carscoops.com

"2024 Buick Envista: A sedan wrapped in a crossover body"

2024 Buick Envista: Crossover body hides a sedan

Buick's subcompact crossover debuted in showrooms in April and becomes Buick's latest entry-level vehicle, replacing the Encore with a starting price of less than $30,000.

www.autonews.com

The WTF alarm went off in my head. 😑

 

[Roadhawk]

Not directly from Buick, but still not that far off.
"Envista’s styling is unique, shaped by the design team at Buick to look more like a high-riding sedan."

The 2024 Buick Envista Adds Sedan Styling to a Compact Crossover

Buick expands its crossover-only lineup with an extra dose of style.

www.autoweek.com

"That’s the word from company officials who told us the crossover coupe aims to keep Buick sedan owners in the family."

Buick Aims To Win Over Sedan Buyers With New Envista | Carscoops

Buick has high hopes for the 2024 Envista as they believe the crossover coupe can be a conquest champion for GM

www.carscoops.com

"2024 Buick Envista: A sedan wrapped in a crossover body"

2024 Buick Envista: Crossover body hides a sedan

Buick's subcompact crossover debuted in showrooms in April and becomes Buick's latest entry-level vehicle, replacing the Encore with a starting price of less than $30,000.

www.autonews.com

The WTF alarm went off in my head. 😑

Yes but these are mostly comments from writers/journalists. As I mentioned in my previous post, Buick has referred to the Envista as having "riding dynamics of a sedan" and "sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan" (and as such is trying to attract sedan owners) but that doesn't mean they think it’s a sedan. Buick clearly identifies and markets the Envista as a “crossover” or “premium crossover” or “small SUV.”

 

[D2R]

Yes but these are mostly comments from writers/journalists. As I mentioned in my previous post, Buick has referred to the Envista as having "riding dynamics of a sedan" and "sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan" (and as such is trying to attract sedan owners) but that doesn't mean they think it’s a sedan. Buick clearly identifies and markets the Envista as a “crossover” or “premium crossover” or “small SUV.”

Yeah, it is the same company marketing the Bolt EV as "SUV"... 😑
They are just trying to cash in on whatever sells.
Riding dynamics of a sedan? Really?
Sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan? Damn, I just nearly spilled my drink on my keyboard looking at that thing. The Trax looks better than that.

 

[Roadhawk]

Yeah, it is the same company marketing the Bolt EV as "SUV"... 😑
They are just trying to cash in on whatever sells.
Riding dynamics of a sedan? Really?
Sporty and sleek proportions typically found in a sedan? Damn, I just nearly spilled my drink on my keyboard looking at that thing. The Trax looks better than that.

What I've found even worse is when companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW started marketing 4-door cars as coupes.

 

[D2R]

What I've found even worse is when companies like Mercedes-Benz and BMW started marketing 4-door cars as coupes.

Oh dear, that is so dang true.

 

[Jack GS]

I don't understand why brands are so allergic to selling plug in hybrids in the states, it really seems like an awesome middle ground. Even Toyota has plug in hybrid variants that they refuse to sell in the states

At least in the case of GM... senior leadership saw no need to waste time or resources developing more hybrids when the end goal is all electric anyway. Right or wrong, they chose to skip the hybrid step and go straight to developing a new EV platform. It's not that they couldn't have built great hybrids, the Volt was largely a success.

Other brands are monkeying around while GM has at least committed to something. Competitors are shoehorning batteries and electric motors into chassis designed for ICEs. This year and into the next, GM will have more EV options than any other manufacturer. And they're looking like they'll be priced lower than others too.

P.S. EVs crush my soul, but from a business standpoint, I think GM may have made the right call. Time will tell. EV production, as a whole, is a cluster so there's still a lot to figure out before EV production becomes a well oiled machine... so to speak lol

 

[D2R]

More EV of the same bones.
Lyriq, Blazer EV, Equinox EV, all ugly SUV (or crossover).
Hummer, Silverado EV, Sierra EV, all trucks that I have no need for.
Celestiq? Nah, it is not for the masses as it is as expensive as a house.

 

[shs92645]

My personal opinion is that GM has set themselves up for a huge financial disaster. Only time will tell but I do not see any acceptance of EV’s in the near term. And many who have bought them want out but there is -0- used market for them.
Let’s hope GM doesn’t put their blueprints for internal combustion engines in the trash.

 

[D2R]

My personal opinion is that GM has set themselves up for a huge financial disaster. Only time will tell but I do not see any acceptance of EV’s in the near term. And many who have bought them want out but there is -0- used market for them.
Let’s hope GM doesn’t put their blueprints for internal combustion engines in the trash.

They are also putting all the eggs in certain baskets.
Where do they still sell vehicles now?

 

[Greeno]

Unfortunately, Buick sedans (and sedans in general) aren’t nearly as popular as they used to be in the U.S. The last generation U.S. Regal's best sales year was only around 14,000 units and that included the wagon. The last generation U.S. LaCrosse's best sales year was only 20,000 units. Despite lots of competition in the crossover/SUV space, the Encore, Encore GX, Envision and Enclave all did notably better.

So far this year, U.S. Buick sales are up quite a bit versus same period last year. Overall U.S. Buick sales are up 68% with Envision up 153% Encore GX up 110%, and Enclave up 20%. The discontinued Encore's sales are down but the Envista (Encore replacement) is due out soon and should significantly add to Buick's sales numbers.

Marketing wasn't good, I always have people asking me if my TourX is a new model lol COVID didn't help the Regal/Opel etc either in sales.