The second generation Buick Verano will be a China only model, with the compact sedan looking like it will be axed from the North American range.
Sources have told Automotive News that Buick will soldier on with the first generation Verano for a little while, but that the next generation model (below), already unveiled in China and due to go on sale soon, won’t be sold in North America.
The reason for this is that buyers, including Buick buyers, are shifting to crossover vehicles. Last year 31,886 Veranos were sold in the US, down from 43,743 in 2014. In 2015, the Verano made up around 15% of all Buick sales.
In 2012, just 31% of Buick sales were crossovers, but in 2015 that jumped to 58%, and it could be over 70% by 2017.
The thinking seems to be that the Verano once served as an entry point into the North American Buick range, but that role is now taken up by the compact Encore SUV, and that with the Verano around Buick will be spreading its resources too thin.
Source: Automotive News
