- Sales of the Buick have crumbled prompting GM to end production.
- GM is actually paying Opel, a past subsidiary, to build them.
- An updated version of the Opel Insignia will continue to be sold in China under the Buick name.
What’s unfortunate about this piece of news is that the current Buick Regal is the best GM’s built and sold in decades. The Regal sedan, cool Regal Sportback and the mesmerizing Regal TourX (the wagon which was never sold in Canada) were actually compelling alternatives in a very small segment. It was a far more appealing car than the recently canned LaCrosse, at least in our opinion.
Said category includes the likes of the Chrysler 300/Dodge Charger, Nissan Maxima, Toyota Avalon and while the Regal may the second most modern of the lot, sales for all of these big cars have stagnated, or dropped dramatically.
Stuart Fowle, Buick and GMC communications manager, told Motor Authority that “Buick continues to be ahead of the consumer shift toward SUVs. In fact, nearly 90 percent of Buick sales to date this year have been crossovers. Although the Regal will no longer be offered in the U.S. and Canada, it will be sold in China where demand for sedans remains significant.”
Although the news is out now, GM made it clear without saying a word that this was happening – the Buick booth at the LA Auto Show was devoid of Regals. Few likely noticed this, which is an indication of where the car sits in the North American automotive psyche.
