- Buick has decided to delay the launch of their first EV in America.
- The model was originally slated to be introduced this year and was expected to be the Electra E5.
- The crossover was expected to be imported from China, but hefty tariffs might have caused the company to rethink their plans.
Buick’s lineup has undergone a significant transformation as it consists of an all-new Envista, a redesigned Enclave, and facelifted versions of the Envision and Encore GX. However, we still haven’t seen the brand’s first North American EV.
Originally announced in 2022, the model was slated to arrive this year. However, that’s no longer the case as GM CEO Mary Barra recently used a second quarter earnings call to reveal they are “deferring Buick’s first EV, which had been planned for 2024.”
More: New Buick Electra E5 Offers Two Batteries, Three Powertrains, And Fancy Avenir Trim In China
Barra didn’t go into specifics about the move, but mentioned a desire to take a “balanced approach as the market develops.” This implies the delay might be related to slower than expected electric vehicle adoption.
However, that might not be the only thing going on as Automotive News suggested the government’s decision to quadruple tariffs on Chinese-made EVs may have played a role. Buick offers the Electra E4 and E5 in China, and it was believed the latter would be imported like the Envision.
That’s likely not viable anymore as, in May, the White House noted the “tariff rate on electric vehicles … will increase from 25% to 100%.” At the time, the Biden Administration billed it as a win for American automakers and workers as they claimed “A 100% tariff rate on EVs will protect American manufacturers from China’s unfair trade practices.”
Speaking of EVs, Barra noted “Over the next few years, third-party forecasters now see the EV market growing steadily, but more slowly than it did over the last few years.” Given this, the company has pushed back electric truck production at Orion Assembly for a second time. It’s now slated to begin in mid-2026, which is six months later than previously announced.
