GM Plans to Export Buick Enclaves to China

Discerning automobile buyers in China are another step closer to experiencing what their U.S. counterparts have been raving about for the past year: the hot-selling Buick Enclave luxury crossover. Chinese officials visited the Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant Thursday and Friday to monitor operations in preparation for the manufacture of U.S.-built Enclaves crossovers for export to China. Pending approval, China-bound Enclaves could begin rolling off the assembly line as early as next month.

Buick declared last year it would expand its global reach following a four-year, $800 million (USD) agreement signed by General Motors and Shanghai GM (SGM) to export Enclaves to China beginning in the 4th quarter of 2008. Enclave will be imported by Shanghai GM and sold through a network of more than 400 Buick dealerships across China. The plant visit by Chinese Quality Certification Center and SGM officials is another step in this agreement.

Buick is one of the most renowned automobile brands in China, with more than 1.7 million Buick owners. Previous year, Buick sold more than 300,000 units there and more than 567,000 globally, a 17,000-unit raise over 2006. Buick has a strong history in China, where Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary hero, and Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, both owned Buicks.

Enclave is Buick's first luxury crossover. Well-known for its stylish design, well-crafted and library-quiet interior, Enclave has segment-leading fuel economy and space to transport up to 8 passengers plus their gear. It is one of GM's hottest-selling vehicles in North America, having sold more than 55,800 since launching in 2007. GM recently announced it was adding 7,000 units of additional Enclave production for the US for the remainder of this year.

The Lansing Delta Township Assembly Plant, which opened in 2006, uses state-of-the-art manufacturing practices. Both the assembly plant and the bordering stamping plant are certified to ISO 14001, an international voluntary set of environmental standards. In adding, it is the only manufacturing facility in the world that has achieved Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Rating System. Read more news at automobile guide.

Source: autonews24h.com