As Americans prepared to celebrate Thanksgiving, Buick quietly announced plans to introduce their first Ultium-based electric vehicle later this year.
Set to debut in China shortly, the model will be a five-seat crossover that will be launched in the first half of 2023. Buick didn’t say much about the vehicle, but the teaser image suggests it will be the Electra 5 which was revealed by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology last month.
Also: New Buick Electra 5 EV Breaks Cover In China
The Electra 5 features a streamlined design with flush-mounted door handles and Buick’s new face. The model is slated to measure 193 inches (4,892 mm) long and this means it will effectively split the difference between the Envision and Enclave. Additional details are limited, but documents said the crossover weighs 5,666 lbs (2,570 kg) and will have an electric powertrain that develops 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS).
Getting back to the official announcement, Buick said the crossover will “raise the bar for a safer, more intelligent, and more premium EV mobility experience.” The company went on to say the model will have advanced battery cells tailored for China, enhanced Super Cruise, and a next-generation Virtual Cockpit System.
The crossover will be followed by a second Ultium-based vehicle next year. Buick didn’t say much about it, but SAIC-GM’s Cesar Toledo commented “With the highly flexible Ultium platform at their core, the new models will play a strategic role for Buick in China’s highly competitive EV market.” He went on to say, “They will start a new chapter in the brand’s accelerated transformation toward electrification and intelligent mobility, reinforcing our commitment to bringing in the latest technologies to meet our customers’ evolving needs.”
