Founded in 1903, Buick will launch its first zero-emission car in 2024 as part of a broad strategy by its parent company GM, which has planned to invest $35 billion by 2025 in electric vehicles. and autonomous.
To demonstrate its transformation, Buick has adopted a new logo, three shields now aligned instead of juxtaposed in a circle, and will switch to a new graphic identity in the coming months.
All new electric Buicks will also bear a name used for an emblematic vehicle of the brand produced between 1959 and 1990: Electra.
Buick represents only a small share of GM sales, 8% in 2021 in the United States, for example, where the brand has lost its former glory and only offers four SUV models.
But the group led by Mary Barra has embarked on a conversion to electric, with the ambition of only offering private vehicles without internal combustion engines by 2035.
Another of its brands, Cadillac, must also become all-electric by 2030.
In the meantime, GM has committed to offering 30 models of electric vehicles by 2025 and then selling more than 1 million a year.
Spurred on by more environmentally conscious regulations and the success of Tesla, other automotive groups have embarked on similar strategies, for example Mercedes-Benz having announced its intention to go 100% electric by 2030. “where market conditions permit”.
In the United States, the market remains small for the moment, but is growing rapidly: according to the firm Cox Automotive, electric vehicles accounted for 5.2% of sales in the first quarter in the country against 2.5% over the same period. in 2021.
GM can also build on the success of Buick in China, the biggest market for the brand present in the country via a joint venture with SAIC Motor. Buick plans to launch five electric models there by 2025.
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