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No New Buick Verano for US Market

May 10, 2016 by admin 4 Comments

Buick’s entry-level model is on its way out.

An all-new Buick Verano is currently being marketed in China, but plans for the second-generation compact premium sedan do not include offering it in the North American market.

Automotive News reports that the entry-level sedan will not be renewed after the 2017 model year, leaving Buick’s US operation with just two sedans, a convertible, and a bevy of SUVs in the brand’s portfolio.

New Cruze, No New Verano

The front-wheel drive Buick Verano is underpinned by the same platform powering the Chevrolet Cruze, itself updated this year. The Verano’s main competitors are the Acura ILX and Lexus IS 250, and nearly 32,000 American consumers bought the small Buick last year.

Buick VeranoNevertheless, Buick sees its future following the consumer shift to SUVs, and is bringing the compact Envision SUV from China to augment the subcompact Encore and the midsize, three-row Enclave SUVs. Further, because most Buick and GMC dealers are sold under one roof, customers also have easy access to two lines of pickup trucks as well as four lines of GMC SUVs.

With customers no longer having access to the Verano, Buick dealers will have their work cut out for them when leases renew and owners trade in. Entry-level Buick shoppers may be redirected to the tiny Encore or the midsize Envision, the latter expected to generate 50,000 sales per year. Come 2018, the smallest sedan will be the Regal. The Buick Cascada is similarly sized, but it is a niche 2+2 convertible.

Wholesale Shift to Trucks & SUVs

GM’s decision to walk away from the Verano follows April’s sales figures release. Last month, Verano sales fell by 18.8 percent and are down by 11.7 percent through the first four months of this year. Sales of its large LaCrosse sedan are down by 21.7 percent, but Regal volume is up by 13.5 percent.

Buick’s strength remains in SUVs as the Encore is by far its best selling model, followed by the Enclave. Looking forward, Buick expects SUVs to generate 70 percent of its volume, enabling the brand to meet customer demand, but not without some risk.

That risk is based largely on fuel prices, what plays a significant role in consumer purchase decisions. When fuel prices are high, new car buyers avoid large SUVs and consider smaller models, including compact cars.

Sales Mix Among American Manufacturers

Indeed, among the traditional American manufacturers — GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler (FCA)— car sales fell by 11 percent in 2015, while demand for pickup trucks and SUVs surged by 15 percent according to the International Business Times.

In 2015, FCA truck/SUV sales surged by 22 percent, while car sales plunged by 19 percent. GM, including Buick, realized a 16 percent increase in truck/SUV sales to a 14 percent drop in car sales. Ford has the narrowest change of all as truck/SUV sales rose by 8.3 percent, while car sales fell narrowly by 0.9 percent.

The Fuel Price Factor

In recent months, fuel prices have slowly, but steadily risen. That ascent may be seasonal as gas prices routinely rise as the summer driving season begins. The US Energy Information Administration has forecast an average price of $2.04 per gallon for the summer driving season (April-through-September) compared with $2.63 per gallon last year.

Both numbers are far lower than the $4.11 per gallon peak reached in July 2008. By January 2009 fuel prices averaged $1.84 per gallon, rising and falling since.

A big advantage for Buick lies in its ability to shift products quickly, if needed. Given that the second-generation Verano is sold in China, readying that model for the US market shouldn’t take long if consumer trends shift. That means we may not have seen the last of Buick’s smallest model as well as perhaps an all-new flagship sedan based on the Avenir concept.

Recent — On the Horizon: A Front-Wheel Drive Chrysler 300?

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: BUICK AVENIR, BUICK CASCADA, BUICK ENCLAVE, BUICK ENCORE, BUICK ENVISION, BUICK REGAL, BUICK VERANO, China, FUEL PRICES, GM, Gmc, SUVs

About admin

Matt Keegan has maintained his love for cars ever since his father taught him kicking tires can be one way to uncover a problem with a vehicle’s suspension system. He since moved on to learn a few things about coefficient of drag, G-forces, toe-heel shifting, and how to work the crazy infotainment system in some random weekly driver. Matt is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a contributor to various print and online media sources.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Buick Cascada Set to Take Center Stage says:
    April 16, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    […] lineup will be seven models strong and composed of four cars — Cascada, LaCrosse, Regal, and Verano — as well as three crossovers — Enclave, Envision and […]

    Log in to Reply
  2. Buick Renaissance: Yet Another Riviera Teaser? says:
    April 16, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    […] stir more interest in GM’s premium brand than anything else to date. And unlike the Opel-derived Verano, Regal and Cascada models or its fleet of SUVs and the LaCrosse sedan, this model’s DNA is […]

    Log in to Reply
  3. 2015 Consumer Reports Annual Car Brand Report Cards says:
    April 16, 2017 at 4:47 pm

    […] Buick has enjoyed a strong makeover, one that has yielded several new products, including the Verano and Regal sedans. Furthermore, a 2+2 cabriolet will arrive next year and the Avenir concept has […]

    Log in to Reply
  4. Crumbling Chevrolet Sonic Sales Leads to Layoffs — Auto Trends Magazine says:
    September 9, 2018 at 8:44 am

    […] other model, the Buick Verano, is coming to the end of its first generation run. An all-new model is slated to arrive in 2016 for […]

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