Buick Was Thriving Until Trump's Tariffs Hit | Carscoops

      Buick has boosted its market share to 1.6% thanks to a robust first quarter, but it now risks losing that momentum.

      Six hours ago

      By Brad Anderson

      All three of Buick's top-selling vehicles in the U.S. are manufactured overseas. The Envista and Encore GX are made in Korea, while the Envision is produced in China. Currently, the automaker has a 53-day supply of vehicles in the U.S.

      Despite being one of the most iconic American brands, none of Buick’s three best-selling models are actually manufactured in the United States. This poses a significant challenge for the company following President Donald Trump’s extensive tariffs on imported vehicles and parts. While Buick had a strong first quarter in 2025, these tariffs could hinder its progress in the U.S. market, making it more difficult for the brand to maintain its growth.

      In the first quarter of this year, Buick sold an impressive 61,822 vehicles in the U.S., a substantial 39.3% increase from the 44,385 it sold in Q1 2024. This rise in sales was fueled by high demand for various models, including the Enclave (+36.6%), Encore GX (+52.7%), Envision (+17.3%), and Envista (+53.8%). Unfortunately, the Envision is produced in China, and both the Envista and Encore GX are manufactured in South Korea.

      Under Trump’s tariff regulations, the imported Envista and Encore GX models from South Korea will incur a 25% auto import tariff along with a 2.5% existing tax, resulting in a total tariff rate of 27.5%. The Envision faces an even steeper charge of 47.5% due to an additional 20% tariff aimed at countering the perceived fentanyl influx into the U.S.

      Ivan Drury, director of insights at Edmunds, stated that Buick likely has “probably the strongest momentum they’ve had in decades,” driven by the rising popularity of its new models. Nonetheless, Drury informed Reuters that “if this momentum slows down, stalls or stops, then it’s not putting a nail in the coffin but you’re really ruining a good thing … it does dampen the dream of reviving a historically significant nameplate in the U.S. auto industry.”

      Buick's market share in the U.S. has climbed from 0.8% in 2022 to 1.1% in 2024 and reached 1.6% by the end of Q1 2025, thanks to strong demand for its new models.

      While it's anticipated that the inventory will last about 53 days, once that stock is depleted, Buick may be forced to increase prices for the Envision, Encore GX, and Envista. The company has not yet disclosed the extent to which the tariffs will affect its pricing; however, unless Buick plans to absorb these costs (which appears unlikely), price increases seem unavoidable.

      BUICK US SALES Q1