General Motors has commenced pre-production of the all-electric Buick Electra E5 at the SAIC-GM plant in Wuhan, China.
The Electra E5 was showcased in full by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in China in November and takes design inspiration from the Electra X Concept. Customer deliveries will commence in the first half of 2023.
Underpinning the Electra E5 is GM’s Ultium platform and drive unit, featured for the first time in a Buick vehicle. While full technical specifications have yet to be announced, we know that the SUV delivers 241 hp (180 kW) and weighs 2,570 kg (5,666 lbs). It remains unclear how large its battery pack is nor how many miles it can travel on a single charge.
Read: New Buick Electra 5 EV Breaks Cover Completely Undisguised In China
Car News China notes that the new Buick model features the SAIC-GM VCS smart cockpit and the latest generation of GM’s Super Cruise driving assistance system.
“Leveraging GM’s over 25 years of expertise in EV development and advanced technology, the Electra E5 will take advantage of the full potential of the Ultium platform to provide an appealing EV experience with advanced safety, intelligence and performance,” General Motors added in a statement. “It will adopt local battery solutions tailored for China that support high thermal stability, low degradation and long battery life. With its advanced battery management system and leading battery protection technologies, the Electra E5 is designed to deliver higher levels of safety and reliability for EV mobility.”
GM-SAIC will likely announce more details about the Electra E5 in the coming weeks, including the likely release of images showcasing the SUV’s interior.
