Chinese customers like Buick... more than the Americans do!

Beijing, China - Believe it or not, the Chinese are madly in love with Buick cars. So much so that this year, Buick will have sold more vehicles in China... than in the United States.

(Photo: Nadine Filion, Auto123.com)

The 9th Beijing International Auto Show is in full swing. Between two exhibition halls, I stopped by the stand of the organizing committee. There I met a tall Chinese guy, about 6'2''. Despite being only 23 years old, he already had the corporate attitude and attire, with the tie and all, and he kindly answered all my questions... in fluent English no less.

As I found out, the show is home to nearly 1,200 manufacturers and companies from more than 20 countries around the world. Some 560 vehicles are showcased and the total exhibit area covers 120,000 square meters. The show closes its doors on November 27.

Then, I asked him a couple of personal questions like "what are your favorite auto brands?" He said, smiling: "BMW. And Porsche, of course." What if he had to buy a car tomorrow, what would it be? "Funny thing you ask, because I am considering buying a Buick LaCrosse," he told me.

A what?!?

He wasn't kidding: a Buick LaCrosse.

The Buick tradition
Let's go back to the '20s. What car was Sun Yat-sen, father of the Chinese Revolution, driving at the time? You guessed it: a Buick.

(Photo: Nadine Filion, Auto123.com)

The Chinese have a long memory. That's why even the younger generations also like Buick products such as the LaCrosse (Allure in Canada).

Tell Mr. Tiger Woods he's still got advertising work to do!

Historic year for GM
When GM officially announced, in the mid-'90s, that they wanted to penetrate the Chinese market, local authorities had one important request: the Buick brand had to be part of the transaction.

The results have been positive. In fact, vehicle sales in China keep growing and growing. From about 20,000 units sold in 1998, Buick surpassed the 250,000-mark in 2004.

What's even more impressive is that, from January to October 2006, Buick sales in China were stronger than in America by more than 35,000 units (241,633 Buicks in China and 206,582 in the U.S).

(Photo: Nadine Filion, Auto123.com)

This will be a historic year for GM: for the very first time, more Buick cars will be sold overseas (mainly in China) than on home soil.

China has in fact become GM's second largest market, thanks to a good lineup of Cadillac, Chevrolet, Opel, Buick and Saab vehicles.

A dressed-up Chevrolet Optra
The first thing that impresses tourists when they set foot in China is the unbelievable number of Buick cars on the road: the Excelle, LaCrosse, Regal, Royaum, GL8...

Actually, the Excelle (sedan, wagon and hatchback) is so popular that it will soon take the crown of China's best-selling car away from the Volkswagen Jetta. That's quite an accomplishment.