Buick China Adds to Zeta Lineup
July 30, 2007 by George Skentzos
GM will reposition Buick China as an affordable luxury car manufacturer, producing future models based on the Australian developed Zeta platform among others.
The Holden export spec Statesman known locally as the Park Avenue is currently their most luxurious model.
GM will rely on Chinese engineers to develop future models based on GM’s current platforms. Included in the future lineup is a small Excelle sedan due late next year, which will be based on GM’s Alpha platform currently being developed in Germany, followed by the LaCrosse sedan in late 2009 being developed on GM’s Epsilon 2 vehicle architecture.
The locally designed Zeta platform will form the basis for the new Buick Lucerne, however it is not scheduled for an update until 2011.
The first cars will be imported from Holden Australia with production eventually moving to the Oshawa site in Ontario.
Whilst on the surface this may seem like great news for Holden, in reality the long term effects may be quite devastating. Chinese cars have never been known for their quality or safety, quite the contrary in fact and should future Zeta-based Chinese engineered cars follow this trend, the repercussions on Holden’s worldwide image could be severe.
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Sorry i made a mistake:
The Holden export spec Statesman known locally as the Park Avenue is currently their most luxurious model. I Apologise.
Secondly, The first cars will be imported from Holden Australia with production eventually moving to the Oshawa site in Ontario.
Very sorry to the site administrator
Not a problem Max, I am only human, if I do make a mistake feel free to point it out, but we can both be polite about it.
Max do you work for GM?
Time and time again its folks like you that mouth off before checking your own facts that in the end, look plain silly.
For what its worth, we are the fastest growing auto site in Australia – by a long way. And that’s with editorial content only!
so…. we will get Chinadores one day
lol
^
Only requires a slight name change: “Commiedore” :D
SHAME on you editor..
how dare you change my comment
I stand by all of my original statements – that article is fabricated and contains no truth!
The sensationalised statements in this and many other articles on this site are just plain stupid.
I’m not a Holden man.. i think the hype written about Ford and other brands is just as embarrassing and stupid as the content of this article.
Does anyone know if the Buick Lucerne in Australia comes with bluetooth phone capabilities? In the US it does not b/c of Onstar, however some Pontiacs in Australia do and I believe Holden is the o/e part manufacturer? (i think)
Does anyone know if Buick Lucerne’s in Australia have bluetooth phone capabilities? In the US no GM does (excepting 2007 Cad. STS) b/c of Onstar sales. I had read on another blog that pontiacs in Australia have it as optional equipment from Holden. Any info helpful
Thanks
Ben