- Buick’s three best-selling vehicles in the US are all produced internationally.
- Both the Envista and Encore GX are built in Korea, and the Envision is made in China.
- The car manufacturer currently has a 53-day inventory of vehicles in the US.
Buick may be one of the most quintessential American brands, but the reality is that none of its top three best-selling models are actually built in the United States. And that’s a huge problem for Buick after President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs for all imported cars and parts. Despite a strong performance in the first quarter of 2025, these tariffs could derail much of Buick’s momentum in the U.S. market, making it harder for the brand to sustain its growth.
More: The Most American-Made Cars Least Affected By Trump’s Auto Tariffs
From January through March this year, Buick sold a healthy 61,822 vehicles in the U.S., marking a huge 39.3% increase from the 44,385 it sold in Q1 2024. This surge in sales was driven by strong demand across the lineup, including the Enclave (+36.6%), Encore GX (+52.7%), Envision (+17.3%), and Envista (+53.8%). Unfortunately for Buick, the Envision is built in China, while both the Envista and Encore GX are manufactured in South Korea.
Read: 2024 Buick Encore GX Gets Wildcat-Inspired Facelift, Avenir Trim And High-Tech Interior
Under Trump’s tariff policies, the Envista and Encore GX models imported from South Korea will face a 25% auto import tariff, plus the existing 2.5% tax, bringing the total tariff rate to 27.5%. The Envision, however, is hit even harder with a 47.5% rate, due to an additional 20% tariff imposed as part of measures targeting the alleged flow of fentanyl into the United States.
According to the director of insights from Edmunds, Ivan Drury, Buick has “probably the strongest momentum they’ve had in decades,” thanks to the surge in popularity of its new models. However, Drury told 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 bringing back what was a very historic and important nameplate in the U.S. auto industry.”
Thanks to strong demand for its newer models, Buick has increased its market share in the United States from 0.8% in 2022 to 1.1% in 2024 and 1.6% by the end of Q1 2025
It’s projected to have an inventory of about 53 days, but once that supply runs out, it may have to raise prices on the Envision, Encore GX, and Envista. Buick has yet to comment on how much of an impact the tariffs will have on its pricing, but unless the company plans on swallowing the cost of these tariffs (which seems unlikely), price hikes seem inevitable.
BUICK US SALES Q1
