GM's Q1 sales dropped nearly 10% as Buick collapsed
Posted by Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 213 comments
Posted by Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 213 comments
Floormatt69@reddit
With how many new Enclaves I see driving around, I would have thought the opposite. Must be good lease deals or something.
davethadude@reddit
I work at a buick/gmc dealer. A good majority of our sales are gmc trucks, but the enclaves and encores sell pretty well. We will get a delivery of like 10 at a time and usually half of them are sold before they are even PDI’ed.
News_without_Words@reddit
Are they selling them at a loss?
Drew1231@reddit
Probably not if they have 0 time on lot.
News_without_Words@reddit
How is Buick doing so badly then? They only have 4 models.
Hambone528@reddit
Article says the Enclaves and Encores dipped less than 10 percent, but the Chinese built Envision tanked, in part due to tarrifs.
nednoble@reddit
Someone explain to me how this, the Lincoln Nautilus, and the polestar cars are built in China and sold in the U.S. but we can’t buy things like BYD
Lucreth2@reddit
Because one set of vehicles are built to US regulations and the other aren't. Same reason certain Japanese vehicles never made it over here, like the older skylines.
LowSkyOrbit@reddit
The regulations have become a problem in the US. There's no reason that certain European or Japanese made cars shouldn't be in the US market. Same for many of the global Chinese brands like BYD. The chicken tax needs to go, but regulations on SUVs and Pickups needs to be drastically improved for pedestrian safety and end their exemptions for their terrible gas mileage.
wustinaright@reddit
Lol xi jinping deepthroater over here😂
cars-ModTeam@reddit
Thank you for your contribution. Unfortunately, your comment has been removed.
Please read the removal notice carefully. Your post falls into one or more (but not necessarily all) of the following categories:
We do not do politics in r/cars. If you have questions, please read this link.
If your post is about cars and politics, please post in r/CarsOffTopic
Please read the rules and the chain of action regarding removed comments and moderator actions before continuing to post. If you have any questions, please read the rules first and feel free to message the mods if you still have concerns.
Please do not send PMs or chat requests to individual moderators. They will not reply.
Designfanatic88@reddit
Agreed. It’s 2026 and people are still driving these dumpster junk boxes like chevy: traverse/tahoe/suburban… GMC: Acadia/yukon/yukon XL that all get 20ish or less MPG.
It’s so pathetic. Japanese cars are at nearly 70mpg now.
Bassracerx@reddit
Most japanese cars are using 600cc engines and dont go faster than 60mph. You dont have to travel far in japan. If you need to go further than 30 miles you will just take a train and rent a car get a taxie or do public transit
Designfanatic88@reddit
Toyota Prius is up to 57mpg now and it’s for sale in the USA.
Bassracerx@reddit
Oh i thought you meant like literal in japan kei cars. Although i think 57mpg saying “nearly 70mpg” is a bit of a stretch.
Designfanatic88@reddit
Not a stretch. 57mpg is only epa rated. It’s possible to get much higher than that.
The highest fuel economy achieved in a Toyota Prius is 93.158 miles per gallon (MPG) during a coast-to-coast drive from Los Angeles to New York City. This record was set by Wayne Gerdes, showcasing the Prius' exceptional efficiency.
IronSlanginRed@reddit
There's no reason someone couldn't become the byd distribution company for the USA and do final assembly here, other than they won't pass our safety standards. They'd still have tariffs though.
DoublePostedBroski@reddit
I’d like my vehicles to be safe
LowSkyOrbit@reddit
Who says they aren't? The majority of these cars have the same technologies and safety features. The Golf Polo, Suzuki Jimny, or Toyota Hilux would all meet American safety standards, and yet they don't sell them because they don't see the cost of importing them to be worth it, or impossible because of of odd law.
Sunfuels@reddit
Lincoln and Polestar (through volvo) already had a massive dealer, service, and parts network. BYD has none of that. Nothing is stopping BYD from selling cars in the US, provided they could charge enough to cover the 100% tariff. But because they would need to cover those tariffs, their margins are not going to be worth the investment in those things I mentioned, plus doing the engineering and safety testing to localize their vehicles to the US.
Hambone528@reddit
Lincoln and Volvo aren't Chinese manufacturers. They just use Chinese labor.
ucancallmevicky@reddit
Volvo is owned by Geely, it is a Chinese owned brand
Zugzugzug3@reddit
They aren't making a lot of Enclaves. Its pretty much the biggest 3 row SUV you can buy that isn't BOF. So the buying segment is relatively small of people who need 3 rows frequently, but don't want a minivan or a BOF SUV. And they want a GM product. And they want the Buick version instead of the extremely similar, but slightly less nice inside GMC or Chevy versions of that exact vehicle.
dre2112@reddit
It must be regional because I live in LA and j couldn’t tell you the last time I saw a Buick let alone an enclave
Skillsjr@reddit
300/m for me
PerfectlyBoosted@reddit
What did you put down?
Skillsjr@reddit
2000
AndroidMyAndroid@reddit
Just his dignity
Longjumping_Hyena_52@reddit
Getting hammered on tarrifs
cubs223425@reddit
The Enclave does OK, but the Envision just died last year. It sold over 15K in Q1 2025, but was under 6K in Q4, and it's down even further this quarter.
E39_CBX@reddit
Maybe they’ll realize they can’t survive selling exclusively to Enterprise and the Midwest.
Kavani18@reddit
They’re the top automaker in North America. Y’all are so misinformed it absolutely frustrates me to no end
Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit (OP)
I think GM's biggest problem is a lack of identity and desirability
Aside from the Corvette, basically everything else they make is mid-pack or subpar with no standout features or design or interesting powertrain options.
Slideways@reddit
You can't just see 9.6% down and assume everyone else is doing better. They're stiull the #1 automaker in North America, Cadillac's EV sales are up 20%, their truck market share is up, and GMC had its best retail quarter ever.
Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit (OP)
Not that long ago, GM was number 1 in the world, now they barely make it into the top 10 largest automakers.
Something isn't working
Kavani18@reddit
GM is the 4th or 5th largest automaker in the world depending on the year. This sub just says shit😭
Slideways@reddit
Europe wasn't working. They sold Vauxhall and Opel.
Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit (OP)
GM also ran from Africa, India, and Australia. Their foothold in the Middle East, Latin America, and China gets smaller by the day...
RAMBIGHORNY@reddit
But yet they’re crushing it in Uzbekistan
2016KiaRio@reddit
GM is saved
OllieFromCairo@reddit
India and Australia got completely shut down and Africa severely impacted by their decision to shut down production of almost all right-drive options.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
They're still doing well in Latin America, it's only their biggest market from oversea beside China. However, I don't disagree Chinese automakers eating their sales, but it isn't only GM problem.
Lighthouse_seek@reddit
They sold out of europe and got punched in the face by local competition in china
Pixelplanet5@reddit
its pretty clear that basically everything they do is not working on a free market.
The only reason they still exist in the US is protectionism shielding their market from real competition.
Thats why they fell off everywhere where they dont have this kind of government protection.
idontremembermyoldus@reddit
They're currently the fourth-largest automaker in the world by sales volume, with Toyota, VAG, and Hyundai besting them. That's hardly "barely in the top-10"...
LimitedReach@reddit
GM is in the top five behind Toyota, VW, and Hyundai/Kia lol. They and Stellantis trade spots for #4-5
dieselmiata@reddit
Are those figures with, or without fleet sales? Those carry a lot of weight in this conversation about brand identity.
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
GM sales decreased 9.7% and Ford's decreased 8.8%. The market is full of uncertainty and people don't want to buy with the instability in our government and the wars.
Oddly enough, the Silverado sales increased.
Lilmumblecrapper@reddit
F150 was not up to speed on manufacturing given the fires at the aluminum plants used for there trucks. Less F150’s on lots means more sales across the street at Chevy.
Lighthouse_seek@reddit
Well Toyota was only down 0.1% in q1 so something went wrong with the Detroit automakers
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
Toyota was down 8.5% in March though, so their sales slump is here too. Seems like they were able to stave it off a couple months longer though.
jimothee@reddit
Somehow I feel like that tracks
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
True, but the F Series fell 16%, so it's quite the difference.
Hambone528@reddit
SIXTEEN?!
Ihate_reddit_app@reddit
Yep, I think some of it has to do with their aluminum plant fire. They couldn't build enough trucks.
Slideways@reddit
Nothing you quoted refutes what I said.
dieselmiata@reddit
GMC had its best quarter ever and Sales decreased across all brands including GMC kinda sound different, eh?
Slideways@reddit
Not when you read what I said:
Retail, as in non-fleet sales.
dieselmiata@reddit
GMC had its best retail quarter ever.
Sales are down across all GM brands, including GMC.
Pick one.
Slideways@reddit
I can’t believe I have to explain this, but total brand sales include retail (dealership customers) and fleet sales.
Tbro100@reddit
Wouldn't fleet sales apply to more normal brands like Chevy and maybe Buick?
I don't think it affects the premium brands like Cadillac and GMC much, especially when they specified retail sales, which excludes working vans like the Savanna.
nondescriptzombie@reddit
You can rent an Escalade or a Navigator from just about any rent-a-car in a mid-high range economic area.
Tbro100@reddit
Not to the extent that you could rent a Malibu, Trax or Tahoe tho. Fleet sales would make up a considerably smaller fraction.
FesteringNeonDistrac@reddit
I have a Buick as a rental right now. We're driving around AZ doing national parks and see a bunch of them that I presume are also rentals.
I can't tell you which one it is because the marketing geniuses gave them all made up words that start with En.
Tbro100@reddit
Honestly? Still easier to identify than Cadillacs old naming system which they rehashed twice.
They had two models named the XTS and the XT5 at the same time and they were very different vehicles lmao.
Less-Mushroom@reddit
Buick is positioned more upmarket than GMC.
Tbro100@reddit
Really? Aren't Buicks a lot closer in pricing compared to a Chevys than GMCs?
Thought they transferred Buick to entry level luxury and kept GMC as the luxury trucks. GMC also has a more premium flagship model.
RequirementLeading12@reddit
The first quarter last year was distorted by tariff fears, so sales will be down across the industry. Sales are up from the numbers the prior three years:
2026: 626,429 2025: 693,363 2024: 594,233 2023: 603,208 2022: 512,846
If projections from Cox are correct, their YoY contraction was slightly higher than the rest of the industry (-9.6% vs -6.5%) but it is nonetheless not as dire as some headlines would lead you to believe.
DoublePostedBroski@reddit
I’ve been seeing a crap ton of Lyriqs around
yourname92@reddit
Y’all are missing one big thing, they make crap vehicles with terrible resale value, reliability, and high cost. They have crap customer support to add into that.
Zugzugzug3@reddit
Like all American OEMs they put all their money in trucks, BOF SUVs, and halo sportscars. All other models are phoned in garbage because they are nowhere near as profitable as their primary products. That's what happens when you have an expensive unionized labor force and trade barriers that protect your main product lines from competition.
yourname92@reddit
You couldn’t be farther from reality of it all.
TheOtherGlikbach@reddit
Owner of a Chevy Volt EV. Like the vehicle on the whole but service sucks, customer support is non-existent, and the car just feels cheap. It's a great commuter / city car but so cheap feeling compared to rivals.
OllieFromCairo@reddit
My friends' Volt burned down their garage.
cubs223425@reddit
You also can't say this and ignore what this represents. The brand is down 10% WITH an 8% increase in fleet sales.
Meanwhile, Korean OEMs seem to be eating into GM's customer base. They both sell things that GM hasn't bothered to--cars and hybrids. Both posted record or near-record sales while existing firmly in the same economic market where most of GM's products exist.
That's because they brought out a new model (Vistiq) and made the Optiq notably better (and released the Optiq-V) since the last year. The Escalade IQ and Lyriq that are the same from 2025 to 2026 are both down more than 20% in sales. The Optiq is still down over 40% from its peak in Q3, while the Vistiq is down more than 50% in that time.
So, Q1 26 looks better than Q1 25 because of the addition of the Vistiq and the improvements to thge Optiq, but they've also both on a downward trend from mid-2025.
Slideways@reddit
GM is not a car brand.
So if they're buying things GM doesn't offer, then that's not really GM's customer base, is it?
GM's average transaction price is more than 40% higher than Hyundai Motor Group's
Sales are up because people like the improved product, the horror!
cubs223425@reddit
I didn't say "car brand." I said "brand." IDK what you're even trying to say, seems like some childish semantics with no point.
But it was. GM abandoned sedans (including the Malibu that sold well, which had a hybrid). GM's also missing in that market as a business decision to push hard on EVs over hybrids. Point being, they're being overtaken by Korean OEMs who made better reads on the market shift over the past 5 years or so.
No, they LOOK to be up because there was no comparable model at the time. The new additions are already down 40-50% in 6 months.
You're seriously making the lowest-effort, half-joke comments because you are so unwilling to consider you didn't do any research, made a claim, and want to be dismissive and rude instead of realizing you're wrong.
Slideways@reddit
My mistake, I though we were talking about cars. Which brand had an 8% increase in fleet sales?
They're being overtaken in segments where they don't compete, and instead are selling more EVs, SUVs, and pickups at much higher total market share and at much higher prices.
This article is low-effort. Where's the context? There isn't any. It's clickbait from tip to tail.
jondes99@reddit
The great part about this discussion is that both your comment and the one above could be from any of the last 5 decades.
cubs223425@reddit
That's because they have 4 brands that overlap a bunch. Buick lost its identity when it lost its cars. The promise of all-electric Buick died before it started. Cadillac's cars are on the way out. By next year, the Corvette will be the only car in the GM stable.
4 brands, 1 car, 4 trucks, and a million SUVs. It's hard to have an identity with so much overlap. GM bet biug on EVs and it flopped. They bailed on sedans and Korean manufacturers were happy to steal those sales AND one-up GM on sellling SUVs with better road presence.
If you're shopping for an SUV, why are you picking GM? The Cadillac EVs are decent in their market (though I think the EscaladIQ is an embarrassment), but what else?
Do they have any V6 SUVs left (I think the Blazer had one, but forget if it's been retired)? They don't have a single hybrid in the US market. Why does Chevy alone have so many SUVs that seeming overlap? It's not like GM is giving you a great interior or infotainment for pricing. As someone who has only had GM cars inb his life, they have literally nothing to sell me, and my dad's household that's got 6 GM products in the garage/driveway has essentially resigned itself to the same reality.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
Cadillac confirmed there's a new CT5 coming. Rumor is GM is considering another car on the same Alpha 2 platform. I've seen both Camaro and a Buick sedan mentioned. Obviously would reflect two very different choices!
cubs223425@reddit
Yeah, but all they confirmed it that it would happen "at a later date." They also said after, Ford got rid of their sedan, that they weren't going to follow that path. It only took about 2 years for the Impala to be gone, almost every sedan at Buick to be gone, the and the Malibu to be left twisting in the wind. They've been dismantling their sedan linup for 5+ years, and they will be selling 0 sedans in 2027.
This is the same company that said Buick would be all-electric by 2030, then announced that plan had changed for Buick ever released and EV (which is still hasn't, outside of China).
There is zero reason to trust them because GM is unbelievably fickle. If the market shifts to make the CT5 less cool, they'll axe it and end up not bringing it back. I'm not beliving them, or crediting them for the move, until I see the car on dealer lots.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
The CT5 has played a major role in reviving the Cadillac brand. Zuckerberg owns a Blackwing. It's been a major success for GM as a status symbol. They also want to keep the Lansing plant making something on the Alpha platform. Supposedly there will not be a year without a CT5, the new model comes in 27.
The EV chaos is consistent across manufacturers. Look at Ford axing the F-150 Lightning after its massive launch.
cubs223425@reddit
That's just addressing how badly American OEMs have managed things. Kia's electric offerings have been pretty successful in finding a market.
In reality, the past 6 months or so just haven't been good for American automakers. That doesn't mean the entire industry is at fault.
That said, I hope the CT5 doesn't have a gap year, and those reports are true. More importantly, I hope they do something useful with the chassis, and the second car they're rumored to be working on is good. But it'd GM, and the CT5 just had one of its worst post-COVID sales quarters, so who knows where it goes.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
I'd love if it was a Camero. It's tough for a Camero because it needs to land in the 40k range for a V8, which means the interior will inevitably look cheap. The alternative is to go upscale with it
AutoModerator@reddit
*Camaro
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
MN-Car-Guy@reddit
The Cadillac XT5 and XT6 both have V6s
cubs223425@reddit
Thank you for the correction, I must have missed them when I was looking through last night.
redsolitary@reddit
Aaaamen. I grew up in a GM household. I used to love American cars so much. They pulled that stuff in the 90’s where all the cars were junk and constantly needed repair - I started buying foreign. Then GM got on top of the quality problem but the products were boring.
Also, who thought it was the right call to kill Pontiac and keep Buick around?
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
The government made them kill Pontiac
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
I agree with this. They don't usually make bad vehicles but they're not a top choice. American rejection of EVs hurt a lot, too. They need to extend that Corvette ethos to other segments
dont_ama_73@reddit
Yea, no one knows the Escalade. Or the Silverado. Or Sierra. No one talks about the new Bolt EV. Tahoe or Suburban what? You are right, its just the Corvette that GM is know for.
b00st3d@reddit
Some legendary Cadillac models are not mid-pack or subpar.
guisar@reddit
As someone who owns one- their interiors continue to suck, their dealers suck worse.
Screwball_Actual@reddit
It certainly doesn't help that virtually all GM gas crossovers across the 4 brands share the same two or three FWD/AWD platforms, and turbo-4 or NA v6 engines.
Drzhivago138@reddit
Pretty soon it'll be all turbo 4s or turbo 3s. Still, is platform sharing really that big of an issue?
half_regard@reddit
never underestimate how much people care about "uniqueness" esp. when it comes to cars
Confident_Season1207@reddit
It's better that way, especially in the future when you might need parts. I like common parts vehicles
knowledgeable_diablo@reddit
From a design and cost structure analysis that is extremely correct. The main problem I guess is when the shared item is based on a flawed or poorly designed/engineered item then the company is spreading bad shit deep and wide throughout their entire model range.
Confident_Season1207@reddit
That is true too, but sometimes an aftermarket company will come through with a fix since there are so many of them. If every model had bespoke parts, car prices would be really high
Slideways@reddit
Why is that a problem? The crossovers from Audi/Porsche/Bentley/Lamborghini all use the same platforms and engines.
willpc14@reddit
You can include VW in that brand cascade as well
parasthesia_testicle@reddit
their whole SUV line sells well. Escalade is a staple. what do you mean
Viperlite@reddit
The Blackwing cars beg to differ, while the 4 and 5 models last.
Zugzugzug3@reddit
The Corvette gets a lot of praise on communities like this, but is a nonfactor for GMC outside the halo effect.
Their true standout product are their BOF SUVs. Tahoes, Suburbans, Yukons and Escalades absolutely dominate the segment and are insanely profitable.
cubs223425@reddit
I mean, it's a Chevy...why would GMC get the effect of it?
Joking aside, the Corvette sold 24,533 units last year and was moving 33-35K/year for the previous 3 years. That's almost as much as every Cadillac EV combined. It's more than the XT5 or XT6 as well. It's about on-par with the 4-year sales of the Enclave. It's not terribly far behind the Anvision most years, and it outsold the Envision in Q1.
And it's not like the Corvette is some economy model that has a low purchase price. Its MSRP is more than $20K over the XT56/ and over $10K higher than the Optiq and Lyriq, on top of having the E-Ray, Z06, and ZR1 all over $100K.
It might not be a huge factor at GM, but it's almost not the smallest. The Trax might dwarf it in sales, but the Corvette's starting price is also roughly 3.5 times higher than the Trax or Trailblazer.
Macgyver452@reddit
GM has heard you and will add another screen somewhere on the dash to differentiate
cubs223425@reddit
WtF, did they hire Audi management?
outofdate70shouse@reddit
They need to bring back the Camaro. Will it help sales and the company overall? I have no idea. But I want them to bring it back.
AllTearGasNoBreaks@reddit
Best we can do is an EV SUV Camaro
cubs223425@reddit
That's basically the Blazer, which previously stole some design cues (like the grille) from the Camaro.
mada447@reddit
Don't forget to make the back of it sloped like a SUV coupe abomination because Camaro. They already got the Evista body, just put the 6.2 in that.
cubs223425@reddit
They should have kept the Malibu. It was significantly outselling most of their SUV lineup, despite going several years without a refresh.
People will tell you "that's just fleet sales," while ignoring fleet sales are what keeps this quarter from being a total bloodbath (up 8%) for GM, and that the same volume sales are propping up the SUV sales numbers that the Malibu left behind, which further pads the SUV numbers in a more favorable light.
Meanwhile, the Kia K4 had its best quarter ever and would be a good target for the Malibu to compete with.
iamr3d88@reddit
Yep, got a camaro in 2015 just a v6, but back then the EV future seemed much closer and I wanted rwd before I couldnt get it anymore. Figured the next car would be a ZL1 or Corvette, then they dropped manuals and camaros all together. Next car ended up being a GR Corolla. I would have never guessed that 10, or even 5 years ago. Its just so good when Chevy isnt making fun cars. (Im sure the vette is a hoot on track, but even my v6 camaro cant get into too much power on the street without breaking big laws, the manual keeps daily driving exiting)
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
If you've looked Mustang sales and other affordable sports car sales, the market still can't make profits. I doubt GM would bring Camaro back.
Slideways@reddit
This is the real discussion we should be having.
D3Rpy_Un1c0Rn107@reddit
Cadillacs being great
viperlemondemon@reddit
The same problem they had pre 2008, I’m guessing they are buttering up the federal government to once again bail them out
nicerakc@reddit
A large part of that identity is rooted in the suburban and their trucks, much like ford. Unlike ford however, that identity doesn’t seem to really translate to their other offerings.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
Their EV models are considered very good and impressive, but that's issue for them now. When there are no more ncentives, it's really difficult to sell these nice EVs.
an_actual_lawyer@reddit
I'm not an EV guy...but ECs may be selling on their own soon enough if fuel prices stay high...which they will.
markh2111@reddit
Time for a Buick pickup.
JediKnightaa@reddit
if youre in a Buick/GMC dealership would you really think
"Wow, I sure wish Buick had a Pickup"
markeydarkey2@reddit
That's what GMC is for.
RAMBIGHORNY@reddit
Needs to come from the factory with a camper shell for the grandpas who will exclusively buy it
markh2111@reddit
Oh, don't tempt me!
PlutoniumOligarch@reddit
Genuinely surprised Buick has survived this long. It's the only car brand I know of that doesn't have a target audience. Like who says "Cadillac is too luxury, Chevy is too basic and I hate capital letters so GMC is out but I still want a car made by GM"
blackeyedcheese@reddit
I remember finding out years ago that Buick was doing very well in China as a luxury brand, but in recent years competition from BYD and others had really cut into their sales over there.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
Buick has had prestige in China, not only a mid luxury brand, so that's reason why Buick still selling fine there despite Chinese local automakers taken their sales.
Of course, local Chinese automakers make good deals in their cars, so that's also reason why GM plug out Chevy brand there.
JediKnightaa@reddit
Also I mean their model line up in China is to die for. Would kill to see some of those models in the usa
NYCHW82@reddit
I'm also surprised they've lasted this long. I guess Buick fills that spot between Chevy and Cadillac right? I see a fair amount of them around but no EVs or PHEVs. Too bad because the Cadillac EVs are fantastic. It's like the brand is in the "sorta premium" segment, while Cadillac is trying to compete with the ultra premium segment.
cubs223425@reddit
It used to, but now I think the trend of faux-offroad fans also makes GMC a more desirable SUV brand than Buick, while Buick's lack of cars give it nothing to offer as a unique prupose next to GMC, which always had trucks.
NYCHW82@reddit
Yeah, I guess. That's also today's Buick. Buick was always kinda that near-luxury brand that was under Cadillac but better than Chevy. When I was a kid it's what old ppl drove, then they pivoted around 2008 to focus more on upper-middle class women. Now that everyone's driving big SUVS, I'm not even sure why it still exists.
cubs223425@reddit
Agreed, it's kind of a dumb place to be. It doesn't help that the brand was primarily set to cater to China for a while now though.
20 years ago though, American sensibilities were very different. Buick's cushy, premium sedans had a place. Now, people like the more rugged looks on SUVs, and GMC fits the average consumer better on that front.
If Buick had gotten the Chevy EVs to be the affordable alternative to Cadillac's IQ, maybe it would look a little better. Now, the Buick SUVs aren't bad, but they're in a very weird place in the American market. I still think losing cars hurt them too much, but they'd probably still be in an awkward spot regardless.
cubs223425@reddit
Buick used to have a purpose because it offered premium cars where GMC offered trucks. Without the cars, it lacks identity. It was supposed to get EVs, but they canceled that too. Buick really doesn't have a reason to exist once the last of the Chinese holdovers finally let it go.
ZombiePope@reddit
I want the beigest car I can find / I want a good looking crossover that's secretly narceptic.
JPowJunior@reddit
When they were rebadged Opels they sold very well in China
PickleGaGa@reddit
I’m not even thinking about a GM EV because they don’t have android auto/apple carplay. I would consider the blazer if they put them in.
Home-Star-Walker@reddit
Agreed. I actually really like the newer Cadillacs but will never get one for this reason alone.
CurbsEnthusiasm@reddit
As a Blazer EV owner, you’re doing good by staying away. GM has the EV side of things down pat, the electronics and software is still in Alpha.
AromaticWhiskey@reddit
There are some absolute pants on head decisions though. Like the hideous amount of glare/reflection that gets kicked off by that hard plastic "trim" right against the edge of the windshield. Had to install a dash carpet cover, since apparently only the Equinox's got the TSB but not the Blazer EV.
Hopeful-Hotel-9793@reddit
Agreed, they need to squash the day to day frustration of software glitches.
– owner of a Cadillac Lyriq
PickleGaGa@reddit
That’s good to know, you think the prologue suffers the same issues?
Recoil42@reddit
It does, yeah. Seen a few reports of that floating around. Weirdly it just seems to be those two, people seem to love their Equinoxes.
The_M0nk@reddit
My Equinox EV has some of the worst build qualities out any new car I had been in recently. It rattles like crazy.
I trust the battery but I don't trust the rest of the car.
Styrak@reddit
Sounds like an Equinox.
idkbruh653@reddit
This is the part I think is being left out of everything. Phone projection for CarPlay and Android Auto are huge part of the car buying decision of a lot of drivers and I don’t think automakers get this. And a lot of people wrote GM off after they announced they were getting rid of CarPlay and Auto for their own system. And most saw through what it was really about: gathering data so they can try and get you to subscribe to bullshit data services.
Home-Star-Walker@reddit
That’s a shame. The Envista actually seems like a great car for what it’s trying to be, and what everyone complains doesn’t exist - a legit entry level car that isn’t the size of a chihuahua
JD-PowerHammer@reddit
I mean who the hell cares about Buick today? They've been nothing more than a badge job for 30 years. Back when GM gave its divisions room to engineer and actually compete with each other, sure. But since the 1977 downsizing and lawsuit/death of Olds and Pontiac, it's all the same car, especially since '96/OBDII. They sell Chevy's with inflated prices and slightly shinier badges. For americans, nothing will be lost, only some floridians/palm springs residents might have a few seconds of reflection when hearing they're gone. I've had my money on Lincoln being the next brand to fully die in the US for the last ten years, but whether it's Buick or Lincoln, most folks won't care; neither one has made anything worth looking at for the under 60yo crowd in a long time. As a lifelong GM enthusiast, let them go quietly into the night
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
I disagree. Often, a Buick or Lincoln gets you the nicer interiors than a fully spec'd Chevy or Ford at a better price. Like with the Corsair, it's much nicer than a similarly priced Escape
HtownClassic@reddit
Do it all legal and get scooped up by a little homie in the Regal
yootapo@reddit
Shoulda never let Pontiac go, that brand was fun & had identity.
Trades46@reddit
Buick namely survived the GM restructuring because...be honest, China.
However, just like how FAW-VW was once a dominant brand, SAIC-GM shine has largely worn off in light of Chinese domestic brands and the EV onslaught.
Makes you wonder if Buick as a brand is worth keeping around now they're mostly relegated back to being a minor player in two major markets.
Redeemed_Expert9694@reddit (OP)
When the next brand extinction event comes around, Buick, Infiniti, and Chrylser will be among the first to go
KMartSheriff@reddit
Good riddance
Federal_Rich_3675@reddit
Because they don't offer any hybrids
generalistinterests@reddit
Chinese EVs must be getting popular over there.
russthegod@reddit
Weird, i see Buick Envistas everywhere
Ray1340@reddit
That makes me happy.
vky_007@reddit
Good. American car manufacturers are trash compared to German and Japanese.
TheMatt561@reddit
All they had to do was make a new Grand National, they have free advertising on the super bowl.
ZombiePope@reddit
Based on their current lineup, it would be a midsize CUV with a 3 cyl.
TheMatt561@reddit
Probably best they didn't then lol
stupidber@reddit
Buick collapsed??
TFiPW@reddit
They should bring the GL8 Century to North America to compete with the emerging luxury van market
RequirementLeading12@reddit
The first quarter last year was distorted by tariff fears, so sales will be down across the industry. Sales are up from the numbers the prior three years:
2026: 626,429 2025: 693,363 2024: 594,233 2023: 603,208 2022: 512,846
If projections from Cox are correct, their YoY contraction was slightly higher than the rest of the industry (-9.6% vs -6.5%) but it is nonetheless not as dire as some headlines would lead you to believe.
mishap1@reddit
Buick aggressively shifted to younger demographics (average was over 70 pre-Great Recession) to the mid 50s and aiming lower. The younger/working groups are currently pretty screwed for job growth. Throw in no EVs and tariffs and Buick is in a rough position.
ZombiePope@reddit
They've also completely forgotten how to make a fun car. Their best looking car has a 3 cyl fwd only shitbox motor.
Zugzugzug3@reddit
Its really just the tariffs for Buick. Their main products are foreign made economy products. There's no margin left with tariffs and the cars themselves are dreadful so they need cash on the hood to move (and GM buyers expect cash on the hood as a matter of course). If you aren't getting it cheap, there's simply no reason to buy it over a Rav4, CRV, HRV, etc.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
If China weren't a main reason, Buick should've dead already just like Mercury.
SloppyPizzaPie@reddit
This is pretty damning.
Mnm0602@reddit
“Wait I see a ship that can save us!! It’s called the Titanic, I think things are looking up!”
Old-Show9198@reddit
Shit product shit results
sendfoods@reddit
It's time to show Mary the door.
Morbidly_Off_Piste@reddit
Mary Barra needs to be fired.
Every single contract with ever supplier needs to be renegotiated. Multiple plants need to be shut down, at least half of the models GM offers are worst-in-class. This will result in massive layoffs.
Ford is at least 10 years ahead of GM in terms of running a business, they bit the bullet and slimmed down. GM, meanwhile, is pushing forward as if it's the 90's.
rhunter99@reddit
I don’t understand Buick’s purpose in North America. Or GMC.
Drzhivago138@reddit
GMC's purpose is to sell Chevy models with different bodywork and slightly nicer trim, so as to print money for Papa GM. This it does very successfully. It'll never go away, because GM knows not every GMC buyer would be guaranteed to go to Chevy, Buick or Cadillac.
cubs223425@reddit
People were just trying to brag about GM's great 2026 numbers a month ago. I tried to point out how hard they had fallen throughout the year. They've been plummeting for basically 9 months after a great Q1 and solid Q2 last year.
FreshStartLiving@reddit
Buick...just the name alone makes me think of a old person and I'm in my mid-50s. Never would be caught driving one. I'm sure they're nice and all but I'm not a librarian or realtor. GM really should consider a brand change but from what I've read, Buicks are extremely popular overseas, esp in China. So a re-brand, probably not gonna happen.
Drzhivago138@reddit
Buick's push to all CUVs has actually made their buying audience younger.
agreetodisagree2023@reddit
Surprising. I see Buicks on the road an think if they were any other nameplate, I'd be REALLY impressed. I think the old stigma hurts them.
JPowJunior@reddit
The nice ones are all rebadged Opels, that’s why you were pleasantly surprised.
GM sold opel so Buick is back to garbage.
Drzhivago138@reddit
The Buicks that were rebadged Opels were the subcompact Encore CUV (Mokka), the compact Cascada and Verano (Astra), and mid-size Regal (Insignia). The Regal was the nicest of the bunch.
Ididntevenscreenlook@reddit
You see them more in the US right now because they are pushing hard for the US market again. Their largest market was china. Not anymore.
Slideways@reddit
China is Buick's biggest market, by far. Its lineup in China includes sedans, EVs, and minivans.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Unfortunately your comment has been removed because it contains a link to a delisted domain. This is almost always due to spam from the domain.
Please use a different source.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
ghostogresnowrabbit@reddit
That sucks. Buick Envision is a really nice car. Nicer than anything Lexus is putting out at least.
FourEyesAndThighs@reddit
People don’t buy semi-luxury crossovers when there is economic and employment concern.
Professional-Form275@reddit
God is finally smiting them for discontinuing the Roadmaster and Park Avenue
MattDaaaaaaaaamon@reddit
Because the average buyer suckered into thinking Buick is a premium brand is aging out.
Morbidly_Off_Piste@reddit
Nobody in the USA under the age of 80 thinks Buick is a premium brand. This brand has been relying on Asian markets for at least a decade.
It should have been on the chopping block with Oldsmobile.
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
More like middles class is disappearing. Mid luxury brand customer base was middles class in most. You could buy a budget Caddy or Lincoln from Buick and Mercury, that was these brands doing.
Consider out economic society changing, we don't surprise these brands also dying. Buick is the last one still in middles class market, same other brands are already dead.
mishap1@reddit
They moved younger and aimed more heavily towards women (brand with highest % female buyers) in the last 20 years.
https://gmauthority.com/blog/2023/07/average-age-of-buick-vehicle-buyers-trending-downwards/
Last 12 months haven't been great on the economy / upper middle class. Throw in the lack of any hybrids or EVs and in a more cost conscious economy in those income brackets and they're hurting.
MattDaaaaaaaaamon@reddit
That may be their aim, but clearly that demographic isn't falling for their claims. Buick is an outdated and unreliable brand. Younger people want reliability, and GM doesn't provide it.
mishap1@reddit
They were actually recovering post 2022 (Covid supply chain really dinged them it seems) and growing decently the last 3 years.
Apprehensive-Cycle-9@reddit
Buick pretty consistently ranks very high on reliability metrics believe it or not. Check out consumer reports for a long time now
BryanW94@reddit
We got a base model enclave for a pretty good deal and we love the car. Feels premium to me
BondGoldBond007@reddit
For me it's their 6.2L issues trying to fix an issue with a bandaid.
willey2cool@reddit
2 of the GMC dealers by me dropped Buick. Seems like as soon as they got them in they would sell them though except for maybe the cheapest one.
ShadowGLI@reddit
It’s interesting as Buick has been putting out some really great looking stuff lately.
I’m a diehard German car guy for 20y now and I have friends in the industry so I usually buy my car direct from my buddy who’s a GM, but I’d def give them a shot if I was shopping for domestic vehicles. I LOVED the wagon they did a few years back.
FledglingNonCon@reddit
Ouch
jefferysavage@reddit
Roll out the firebird with t tops
Lord-Cartographer55@reddit
That's a Pontiac..
I spent two decades driving Buicks from my teens to early 30s. I like Buicks, GNs were still being produced when I was in middle school.
That being said, I will never forgive GM for ass fucking Pontiac here in the States to sell more Buicks in the Chinese market.
peanutbuttahcups@reddit
They were really starting to cook before they went out. The Solstice, G6, and G8 were cool cars.
icbint@reddit
Nobody is buying non ev cars right now id assume
peewinkle@reddit
I miss Pontiacs.
greg-maddux@reddit
I was just thinking that I’ve seen more Buick recently than in years prior.
ihaveadogalso2@reddit
My in laws just bought a brand new Avenir less than a year ago and it was just in the shop for nearly two weeks because some belly pan fell off that is somehow also important to the transmission because it was leaking pretty bad. Took forever for them to fix it and they were told it’s a very common problem.
loseniram@reddit
GM EV got hit pretty hard by the tax credit loss.
Their main selling point was having the best bang for the buck.
Buick is just slightly more expensive Chevy than its own thing.
devilmaycry0917@reddit
Bring back Camaro
opstarfish@reddit
I didn’t realize Buick had enough sales to collapse to begin with
2Drogdar2Furious@reddit
TIL Buick was still I'm business....