Whats with the car market in China?

[corsvette]

Buick? Really? It's on course to sell 3 MILLION vehicles there this year, by far GM's biggest market and the best selling nameplate in China (VW is second).

I just wonder, does the Buick name carry prestige there? Is it because its an American company? I just don't quite get it.......

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/gm-s-china-october-sales-gain-12-on-buick-wuling-deliveries.html

[xnvy]

The Buick nameplate carries prestige there. Big modding culture for Buicks as well. All the executives want Buick. I don't know why... I can see the popularity of brands that aren't Japanese but I can't see China's love for Buick in particular.

[snowcat]

I know some manufactures make bigger versions of their biggest cars for China only...

Surprising Buick is so popular.

[spikerS]

Buick, Lincoln, etc, all carry a prestige tag in developing countries, and the black population in North America.


Should include Cadillac in there too.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by corsvette
Buick? Really? It's on course to sell 3 MILLION vehicles there this year, by far GM's biggest market and the best selling nameplate in China.

I just wonder, does the Buick name carry prestige there? Is it because its an American company? I just don't quite get it.......

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/gm-s-china-october-sales-gain-12-on-buick-wuling-deliveries.html

Uh yeah, not entirely sure why that surprises you in any way..:confused: :nut:

Yes Buick is quite a luxury brand over there.

[BokCh0y]

Dunno man...but google search comes with this:

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-chinese-buyers-love-buick-2013-4

[nobb]

Asians here in North America love japanese cars and it's pretty common for some families to refuse to buy anything American. However, it's actually reversed in China as there's still quite a bit of anti-Japanese sentiment from the WWII days. German cars are still seen as the best for prestige, but American cars come as a close second.

When I visited China it was interesting to see the Buick GL8 as a sought after executive transport:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_GL8
The older generation GL8 was basically a Chevrolet Venture dressed up with chrome and leather. Still the same terrible build quality underneath and overall cheapness. Yet the Chinese loved them. Quite strange as there are way better van alternatives from Japanese makers like the Toyota Alphard.

[cloud7]

The last emperor in China had a Buick. Not sure if that's why the brand is so popular, but it doesn't hurt I guess.

[SHO]

I say if they want North American scrap than power on! Revenge for selling me Christmas lights that don't work after one season.

[e31]

One man's Buick LeSabre is another man's BMW 7 series. We see it when dumb kids spend ridiculous money on a beat-up old Honda and think it's hot shit.

Some things just cannot be rationalized.