General Motors has reportedly backtracked on apparent plans to bring the Opel Adam into the US market, rebadged as a Buick.
Incoming Buick brand boss Duncan Aldred a year ago suggested the Adam would “make a great Buick.” He even claimed to be considering “fast tracking” a US launch.
The company has since changed its mind, as the mini-car segment struggles and crossovers continue to surge. The Adam would have been positioned as a rival to the Fiat 500L and MINI’s offerings. Fiat sales were down by nearly 15 percent for the first two months of the year, while MINI slid by more than 12 percent.
Aldred now claims to be satisfied with Buick’s current US lineup, without adding the Adam, according to an interview with Automotive News.
“I very much did feel when I came over that [an Adam for the US] could really help accelerate the Buick brand story,” he said. “Whether the market shifted or the fashion nature of those cars has changed, I don’t know. But I wouldn’t be looking for a small, B-segment car today.”
By the end of the year, Buick’s US showrooms will have three sedans, a convertible and three crossovers. The brand’s US sales were down by 2.6 percent in 2015, however 2016 numbers are currently up by more than 20 percent.
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