Buick will be GM’s first mainstream brand to go all-electric, with the company announcing overnight that the three-shield brand will be EV-only by 2030, but only in North America.
It’s an important warning because even though Buick was founded in the US, the future of the brand is in China. In 2021, Buick has sold 180,000 cars in the United States and 816,000 in China – that’s 4.5 times as many cars.
Thanks to being introduced to China earlier, Buick is GM’s most popular brand there, outselling Chevrolet with 207,000 units in 2021.
-
Wild cat concept -
Buick’s path to becoming an electric-only brand in the US begins in 2024 when sales of its first electric vehicle kick in, widely predicted to be a crossover.
As for China, Buick is planning to launch five new electric models between now and 2025, including at least one sedan, one motorsport and one crossover.
All Buick EVs will be based on GM’s Ultium platform and carry Electra names with alphanumeric suffixes to indicate different models.
In the world’s most populous country, Buick will continue to offer hybrid, plug-in hybrid and petrol engines for the foreseeable future.
To accompany today’s news, Buick has revealed a new logo and three vehicles – two concept models and one production-ready – that provide clues to the brand’s new style direction.
The new logo retains the same three-shield design, like the family crest of founder David Dunbar Buick. Now lined up in a straight line, the shields have been released from their previous circular boundary.
Buick will roll out a new logo and updated typography for its websites and galleries over the next 18 months.
The Wild cat The concept unveiled in the US is a 2+2 coupe with 18-spoke turbine-shaped wheels, spikes, hockey-shaped taillights and a squat stance with wraparound windshield design.
The company’s waterfall-style grille is gone and various Opel-inspired elements. These will be replaced with something similar to Wildcat’s beak-like shield and wide bottom grille.
The Wildcat’s doors swing outward, but part of the roof also lifts up to make it easier to get in and out.
-
Electra-X concept
The Electra-X The concept revealed in China perhaps gives a better indication of Buick’s first Ultium-based EV.
Inside the Electra-X is a 30-inch freely curved display on the dashboard. Both concepts feature minimalist interiors that neatly blend modern features with the brand’s glory years.
Buick did not provide any performance or scope details for either concept.
-
Century GL8
If this is not enough, Buick also removes the result Century GL8A new senior employee has joined China.
The 5.2m MPV will be the first production vehicle to use elements from Buick’s new design.
Like the current Lexus LM and Buick GL8, the GL8 Century is available as a four-seater with business class seats in the back and a baffle to separate the front and rear.
