General Motors (GM) has announced plans to relocate the production of a Buick compact SUV from China to the United States for domestic sales. The next-generation vehicle is slated for assembly at GM's Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, with production expected to commence in 2028.
Vehicles produced in the U.S. will be designated for the domestic market, while production of the vehicle in China may continue for international sales. This decision by GM occurs amidst ongoing pressures for companies to onshore production and increasing tensions in U.S.-China relations, including existing tariffs on imported vehicles.
GM has produced the compact Buick Envision SUV in China for U.S. sales since 2017. The company did not confirm the specific name for the next-generation model that will be manufactured stateside. In an emailed statement, GM highlighted that this move "further strengthens GM's domestic manufacturing footprint and supports U.S. jobs," building upon $5.5 billion in recent U.S. manufacturing investments.
The Fairfax plant is also scheduled to begin production of the gas-powered Chevrolet Equinox in 2027, following a period of limited production for the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt. U.S. sales for the Buick Envision have consistently exceeded 40,000 units annually over the past three years, accounting for approximately a quarter of Buick's total sales during that timeframe. Reuters was the first to report GM's decision.