General Motors said Friday it was preparing to begin exports of the US-made Buick Enclave luxury crossover utility vehicle to China as early as next month.
The announcement by the number one US automaker comes as the Detroit giants are struggling to hold domestic market share in the face of rising imports, mainly from Japanese manufacturers.
GM said in a statement said Chinese officials visited the Lansing, Michigan assembly plan “to observe operations in preparation for the manufacture of US-built Enclaves crossovers for export to China.”
“Pending approval, China-bound Enclaves could begin rolling off the assembly line as early as next month,” the company said.
GM announced plans last year for a plan to export the US-made vehicles through a network of more than 400 Buick dealerships across China.
Buick is one of the most well-known automobile brands in China, with more than 1.7 million Buick owners, according to GM. The nameplate has a strong history in China: according to GM, revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen and Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, both owned Buicks.
