Buick to drop Verano from its US lineup: report
The second-generation Buick Verano model won’t be sold in the United States, according to a report from Automotive News.
The 2012 Buick Verano sedan.
Buick/Reuters/Handout/File
Buick’s second-generation Verano went on sale in China last year, and according to a new report that’s where the car will stay.
Automotive News (subscription required), citing people familiar with General Motors Company’s [NYSE:GM] plans for the Verano, reports that the second-generation model won’t be sold in the United States.
Instead, the first-generation Verano, on sale here since the 2012 model year, will reportedly stick around for the 2017 model year after which the nameplate will be dropped from the lineup.
The reason behind the decision is said to be demand for SUVs continuing to rise while sedan sales remain flat or even shrink. Last year the Encore and Enclave accounted for 60 percent of Buick’s sales in the country, and with the arrival of the new Envision sales are expected to be even more skewed towards high-ridingvehicles going forward.
Another reason could be the arrival of a new compact sedan from Cadillac. With demand for sedans losing out to SUVs, perhaps GM doesn’t want the Verano and new Cadillac cannibalizing each other in the sales race.