GM Sold Over 4 Million Cars In China In 2017 - Buick Alone Was Over 1 Million

Keep in mind, China recently put a "Stop Sales" order (commonly called a "ban") on over 500 vehicle models that don't meet China's new and strict pollution laws. GM and other automakers from a variety of countries are named on that list.

So what's GM's next move? Sue China? Make vehicles that meet China's regs? Try to force China to be more tolerant of pollution?

This will be interesting because China has horrendous pollution problems. They know it, and the world knows it. China is trying to address their pollution crisis by passing tight regulations compelling manufacturers to clean up their act, at home and those selling to China. It'll be a long, painful road to a cleaner China. We'll see who supports China in reducing pollution, verses who cares only about their own profit, regardless of the cost on Man, beast, and planet.

Who needs the cesspool of European idiocy when the Chinese version is available?

I did regularly cover China - and often traveled there - and the pollution in some of the Chinese industrial cities is so bad that they actually close the plants down at times until the air currents help. The fact is- while some may not accept that global warming is due to Human pollution (WE need far more data) - there is NO QUESTION that the air quality in these areas is due to human pollution - and the need to reduce the pollution is acute. AND - we also have evidence that reducing emissions from Factories and car does measurably help air quality. - It would be idiocy NOT to reduce these emissions.

In fact - the cars "models" banned are generally ones that have not been brought up to date with even US emissions standards - often very old models with even older engines that have no emissions technology. AN number of these cars are only banned based on the engine - and other engines in the same models are still acceptable. Example - the one Chevy Cruze model uses an engine that only meets Euro 2005 standards - which long have been superseded. GM does have options to replace the engines in these models.

AS far as "suing" China - good luck on that one - in a country in which the Government is not subject to the "laws" - they are the law - the only leverage GM does have is that they are a very Large employer - and they have successfully worked to get China to PHASE in changes that MAY lead to the end of ICE only engines cars in many areas of China. Today - China is the leading market for EVS and Hybrids - and eventually all cars in China will go away from the ICE as the main power plant.

Doesn't Beijing have a day when there are no cars or factories allowed to operate and the skies and air are crystal clear? Then once back to "normal", the sky and air become hideous again. I cannot imagine living there.

Anyway, no more tangent. Over 1 million Buicks. Let that sink in. WTF is the appeal of a Buick? I thought Chinese buyers loved large luxurious cars. Buicks aren't huge and are only above average in luxury (though I do not know what their product offering is in that country). Not sure what that says about Audi as their former dominant premium brand.

American brands have prestige in China, go figure. If it wasn't for the China market, GM would have killed Buick and would have been better off.

First - Buick was the preferred AUto of Chairman MAO - and that still means a LOT in China. ALso - Buick has a similar reputation in China as Toyota does here - for reliable quality cars. In addition - they have the distribution network that few others have.

However - Buick also has several models of vehicles (including two Mini-vans) that are aimed squarely at the Chinese market - where a Buick is a sign of Prosperity - and are often Chauffeur driven. The mini-vans are - for example - decked out with Luxury appointments - and are sold as moving offices for company executives. There is no way GM would have killed off Buick in China - even if they did so in the rest of the world.

Cadillac - also sells an ATS L - a long version - for lots of rear legroom when you have someone to drive for you. I believe this car would have sold well in the USA - although it might have take CTS sales too.

Bulls Eye! Another reason Cadillac should go back to names!