Half of US Buick dealers chose buyouts over selling EVs in 2023

[Earplug]

Half of US Buick dealers chose buyouts over selling EVs in 2023 | Electrek

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[GreaseMonkey]

Half didn’t want to invest $300-400k in EV related infrastructure, so they sold to GM. GM didn’t give them an option to not sell EVs because they are prepping to drop ice altogether by 2030.

 

[heisnuts]

It will be interesting to see how this plays out with Ford dealers. I think there have already been about 400 of the original 1,900+ dealers who have dropped out of the Ford EV certification program after originally saying they would invest the money to sell EVs.

 

[2021-MMEx-RT1]

New Title

"50% of Buick Dealers Happy to Sell off their Failing Franchise Rather than File for Bankruptcy."

 

[Mach1E]

Half of US Buick dealers chose buyouts over selling EVs in 2023 | Electrek

Am I reading these numbers correctly?

“The Buick dealerships opting into electric have previously been responsible for around 20% of the company’s US sales.”

Is that saying that the half that are staying only did 20% of the total volume?

That would mean the half that left did 80%.

That just doesn’t seem right.

But either way this whole move seems…… odd.

Buick seems like the least likely brand to do well all electric.

The last cool fast Buick was the Grand National. And old people? Don’t seem like they’re making the leap to electric.

Oof, I haven’t been paying attention. The entire Buick lineup is 3 SUVs.

I would totally take the buyout.

This “why Buick is dead” article sums it up well-

https://www.topspeed.com/why-buick-is-as-good-as-dead/

 

[ARK]

I’m honestly surprised Buick survived the great brand culling at GM after their bankruptcy. If Oldsmobile got the axe (admittedly before the BK), I don’t know what hair was split to keep Buick around.

 

[bbhaag]

I’m honestly surprised Buick survived the great brand culling at GM after their bankruptcy. If Oldsmobile got the axe (admittedly before the BK), I don’t know what hair was split to keep Buick around.

The Buick brand has always been popular in China dating back to the 1920's. The Chinese market accounts for a large percentage of global sales for the brand. This is why it was kept around while other brands like Oldsmobile were axed in 2009.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

I’m honestly surprised Buick survived the great brand culling at GM after their bankruptcy. If Oldsmobile got the axe (admittedly before the BK), I don’t know what hair was split to keep Buick around.

I've had exactly the same thought.

 

[bbhaag]

Am I reading these numbers correctly?

“The Buick dealerships opting into electric have previously been responsible for around 20% of the company’s US sales.”

Is that saying that the half that are staying only did 20% of the total volume?

That would mean the half that left did 80%.

That just doesn’t seem right.

But either way this whole move seems…… odd.

Buick seems like the least likely brand to do well all electric.

The last cool fast Buick was the Grand National. And old people? Don’t seem like they’re making the leap to electric.

Oof, I haven’t been paying attention. The entire Buick lineup is 3 SUVs.

I would totally take the buyout.

This “why Buick is dead” article sums it up well-

https://www.topspeed.com/why-buick-is-as-good-as-dead/

So the Buick brand is WAY WAY more than just 3 models. You got the Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, GL8, Electra 5, Encore, Enclave, Velite, and the Envista. I might have even missed a few. Buick sold over 650,000 units in China last year which accounts for about 2.6% of the Chinese auto market.

Buick sales are slowing in China though and I think that is were the all EV push is coming from.
Here in North America Buick is dead but the world is a pretty big place and not all of it revolves around the NA market.

You wanna see how cool a Chinese Buick dealership is and how many models they have check out this link. Scroll until you see Inside the Buick dealer in China
https://www.theautopian.com/a-visit-to-the-buick-dealer-in-china/

Here is the all NEW 2024 Buick LaCrosse

And here is a pic of the Buick Regal. Yes in China they still make the Regal.

 

[luckie]

I do not think any(?) Buicks are sold really in the US. But existing cars are serviced at Service Centers. Thus the fact that dealerships in the US who do not sell any cars decline to pay a half million dollars to be able to also not sell EVs does not seem unexpected.

 

[Mach1E]

So the Buick brand is WAY WAY more than just 3 models. You got the Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, GL8, Electra 5, Encore, Enclave, Velite, and the Envista. I might have even missed a few. Buick sold over 650,000 units in China last year which accounts for about 2.6% of the Chinese auto market.

Buick sales are slowing in China though and I think that is were the all EV push is coming from.
Here in North America Buick is dead but the world is a pretty big place and not all of it revolves around the NA market.

You wanna see how cool a Chinese Buick dealership is and how many models they have check out this link. Scroll until you see Inside the Buick dealer in China
https://www.theautopian.com/a-visit-to-the-buick-dealer-in-china/

Here is the all NEW 2024 Buick LaCrosse

And here is a pic of the Buick Regal. Yes in China they still make the Regal.

This is about US only and US dealerships.

We only gave those 3 models.

And according to the data, each dealership sold an average of 3 cars per month last year.

That’s not enough to keep the doors open here.

Lacrosse pics look good, but would have to see that grille in person.

 

[Mach1E]

I do not think any(?) Buicks are sold really in the US. But existing cars are serviced at Service Centers. Thus the fact that dealerships in the US who do not sell any cars decline to pay a half million dollars to be able to also not sell EVs does not seem unexpected.

Yes, they still sell the 3 models here, but half the dealerships shut down and only 80k or so are selling per year.

 

[luckie]

Yes, they still sell the 3 models here, but half the dealerships shut down and only 80k or so are selling per year.

Is it also true that there are not really any remaining just Buick car dealerships that exist in the US but only Chevrolet/GMC dealerships that also service Buicks (as well as apparently! sell them)? So one might be curious if those dealerships chose simply to not pay a half million dollars to be able to sell a Buick EV if one is ever created.

 

[bbhaag]

This is about US only and US dealerships.

We only gave those 3 models.

And according to the data, each dealership sold an average of 3 cars per month last year.

That’s not enough to keep the doors open here.

Lacrosse pics look good, but would have to see that grille in person.

Sure I understand that. My reply was more an answer to the "Why is Buick still around?" question. The reason Buick is still around even in the US is because of China.

 

[Alutacon]

I’m honestly surprised Buick survived the great brand culling at GM after their bankruptcy. If Oldsmobile got the axe (admittedly before the BK), I don’t know what hair was split to keep Buick around.

Buick is a lame horse that needs to be put down. No one wants a Buick and no one wants an electric Buick for damn sure.

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