NEW YORK, March 23 — General Motors Co yesterday unveiled a refreshed Buick Encore small sport-utility vehicle ahead of the New York International Auto Show as sales of larger US vehicles soar amid low gasoline prices.
SUV sales accounted for 60 per cent of Buick's 2015 US sales including the larger Buick Enclave — up from 34 per cent in 2007. This summer, GM will begin selling a new Chinese-made compact Buick Envision SUV in the United States alongside the new 2017 Encore.
The Envision is GM's first China-made vehicle that it will export to the United States for sale. It is larger than the Encore but smaller than the Enclave.
Buick brand chief Duncan Aldred said he expects at least 70 per cent of Buick US sales this year will be SUVs, including the addition of the Envision.
The new Encore has a new, fancier interior, exterior styling changes and upgraded entertainment systems.
Buick, which is GM's third-largest US brand, saw US sales fall 2.6 per cent last year to 223,000, accounting for seven per cent of GM's sales.
Press previews for the New York auto show are on yesterday and today. The show opens to the public on Friday and runs through April 3. — Reuters
