Buick Envision

The Buick Envision is a compact crossover SUV manufactured in China by SAIC-GM,[3] and marketed globally by GM.

Buick Envision
Overview
ManufacturerSAIC-GM
Production2014–present
Model years2016–present (North America)
Body and chassis
ClassCompact crossover SUV [1][2]
Body style4-door SUV
LayoutFF / AWD layout
Chronology
PredecessorBuick Rendezvous
Buick Rainier
Chevrolet Captiva Sport
Pontiac Torrent

First generation (2014–present)
Buick Envision pre-facelift rear view.
First generation
Overview
ManufacturerSAIC-GM
Production2014–present
Model years2016–2020 (North America)
AssemblyChina: SAIC GM Dong Yue Foundry, Yantai, Shandong
DesignerJeasoo Kim[4]
Body and chassis
ClassCompact crossover SUV [1][2]
LayoutFF / AWD layout
PlatformD2XX/D2UX
Related
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,750 mm (108.3 in)
Length4,667 mm (183.7 in)
Width1,804 mm (71.0 in)
Height1,659 mm (65.3 in)
Curb weight1,835 kg (4,045 lb)

The Envision was introduced to the public in China on July 1, 2014.[5] On July 21, GM published specifications and photos, as well as its Chinese name “Ang Ke Wei” (昂科威).

The car went on sale in late 2014. By 2016, the Envision was available in China, the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[6][7][8] In addition to the larger engines offered in North America, Chinese buyers also have the option of a turbocharged 1.5-liter unit.

The Envision debuted in the U.S. at the North American International Auto Show on January 11, 2016,[9] sharing the segment with a second generation GMC Terrain and the Chevrolet Equinox.[10] It went on sale in the United States in the summer of 2016, making it the first Chinese-built GM vehicle to be sold in America.[11] It was initially offered with all-wheel drive, and subsequently with optional front wheel drive for model year 2017.

The North American version of the Envision features two powertrains: a 2.5L LCV four-cylinder with 197 hp (147 kW) and 192 lb⋅ft (260 N⋅m) and a turbo-charged 2.0L LTG four-cylinder engine SAE certified at 252 hp (188 kW) and 260 lb⋅ft (353 N⋅m), paired with a third-generation six-speed transmission, seven active safety technologies, and OnStar/Intellilink connectivity. For the 2016 model year, it was only available in Premium I and Premium II trim levels.[12] The trim levels expanded to five for the 2017 model year, with the base level Envision starting at US$34,990.[13]

2019 facelift

Debuted in late 2017 in China, and revealed in 2018 for North American market, the 2019 Envision features an revised rear styling, tail lights, stop/start calibration and seating design.[14] The 2019 Envision has a starting price of US$32,990 in the U.S. market.

  • Buick Envision post-facelift front view.
  • Buick Envision post-facelift rear view.

Second generation (2021–)
Second generation
Overview
Also calledBuick Envision S (China)
Production2020 (to commence)
Model years2021–
Body and chassis
Related

In May 2020, GM introduced the second generation of the Envision in the United States.[15] It will be powered by a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 2021 Envision will include a suite of standard safety features, and for the first time, be offered in Buick's premium Avenir trim.

In China, the new Envision will be sold alongside the first-generation Envision as the Envision S.[16]

Reception

In 2017, the Envision was Buick's third bestselling model in the U.S. with sales of just over 41,000 units. Sales in the U.S. dropped 27% in 2018 but rebounded slightly in 2019.

UAW reception

When GM announced it would market a Chinese-manufactured vehicle in the U.S., the United Auto Workers, who had just finalized a contract agreement with GM and had wanted the automaker to build the Envision stateside, released a statement on December 4, 2015, saying "today’s announcement by General Motors that they are importing the Envision from China is a slap in the face to U.S. taxpayers and the men and women who worked so hard to save GM during its darkest time."

Buick spokesman Stuart Fowle said "we have production already going (in China) and adding a second manufacturing facility for the volumes that we would expect in the U.S. just wasn’t feasible," he said. "We wanted to take advantage of the manufacturing already in place. We’re very confident in the vehicle."[17]

On August 6, 2018, General Motors announced that it might withdraw the Envision from the United States market, should a request to seek a waiver to continue to import the vehicle be denied. GM sought the waiver amid a trade disagreement between the United States and China over tariffs that could hurt the sales of the Envision. The automaker sees the potential exemption as "the only way" to continue offering the vehicle to U.S. consumers, according to GM President Dan Ammann.[18] The exemption was denied on May 29, 2019, but GM has opted to pay the tariffs without raising the price on the vehicle for the time being. Buick is confident that ongoing talks between China and the United States could spare the Envision's future in North America.[19][20]

Sales
Calendar year United StatesChina[21]
2014 N/A 19,683
2015 N/A 162,941
2016 14,193[22] 275,383
2017 41,040[23] 236,229
2018 30,152[24] 191,029
2019 33,229[25] 132,568

References
  1. http://media.buick.com/media/us/en/buick/vehicles/envision/2016.html
  2. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=37400#tab4
  3. Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Viknesh (2014-07-21). "2015 Buick Envision Leaked". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  4. "Vehicle body exterior". Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  5. "All-New Buick Envision to Make Premiere in China". media.gm.com (Press release). 2014-07-01. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  6. "Americans Embrace a Made-in-China Buick SUV". October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
  7. "UAW to address possible China-made Buick import". August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  8. "Buick Envision CUV Almost Definitely Coming to U.S.—Plus a Subcompact Hatch, Too?". July 24, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  9. "2016 Buick Envision might be your first Chinese-built crossover" from Autoblog (January 11, 2016)
  10. "2016 Buick Envision Will Be All Wheel Drive Only" from GM Authority (January 9, 2016)
  11. "Buick confirms US-market Envision CUV to be built in China" from Autoblog (December 4, 2015)
  12. 2016 Buick Envision from GM Authority (March 28, 2016)
  13. "2017 Buick Envision To Start at $34,990" from GM Authority (April 11, 2016)
  14. “2019 Buick Envision Bows With Updated Looks And Customer Focused Improvements” from GM Authority (February 26, 2018)
  15. Zac Palmer (May 29, 2020). "Buick has given the Envision a sharp redesign". Autoblog.
  16. "Buick to Strengthen Its SUV Portfolio in China with Upcoming Launch of All-New Envision S". GM. 2020-06-17.
  17. "Buick Envision made in China headed to U.S. next summer". December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  18. "Buick could pull Envision from U.S. without tariff exemption" from Automotive News (August 6, 2018)
  19. "US Denies GM Exemption On Tariffs For China-Made Buick Envision" from GM Authority (June 5, 2019)
  20. "Buick Envision May Be Spared As China Trade Deal Nears" from GM Authority (June 28, 2019)
  21. "Buick Envision China Sales".
  22. "Chevrolet and GM Lead U.S. Retail Sales and Share Gains for 2016". General Motors. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
  23. "Three-peat: Chevrolet's Retail Share Grows for Third Consecutive Year – up 1 point since 2015". General Motors. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-03.
  24. https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2019/jan/0103-gmsales.html
  25. "GM Sells More Than 1 Million Crossovers Again in 2019, and Over 1 Million Full-Size Trucks". 2020-01-03.
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