General Motors [NYSE:GM] might sell a new model in the United States that it’s planning to launch in China by early 2009. The compact Buick sedan is designed to replace the current Excelle, a rebadged version of the Daewoo Lacetti that’s sold in China. Execs are still considering if the car should be offered in the U.S. but a source familiar with GM's product plans has revealed to Automotive News that Buick's U.S. lineup will eventually resemble its range in China.
The new sedan will be based on the next-generation front-wheel-drive Delta platform, currently being developed in Germany by an international team of engineers. The car will be similar in size to the Chevrolet Cobalt or Honda Civic and if given U.S. approval would most likely be imported from China.
Troy Clarke, GM's president of North America, has also confirmed that a new entry-level Buick sedan was under consideration but stated that no final decision had been made. According to its dealers, Buick customers are demanding a vehicle smaller than the LaCrosse sedan and that GM's alternatives, such as the Pontiac G6, doesn’t appeal to the typical Buick buyer.
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