First Chinese-designed car in U.S. will be the Buick LaCrosse
This interesting article from FastCompany.com follows the story of Joe Qiu, known as "Shanghai Joe" within General Motors where he works at the company's Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) in Shanghai as a car designer. Qiu and a relatively small, inexperienced team of designers were responsible for the current version of the Buick LaCrosse sold in China (shown above). This year the car is expected to sell 110,000 units in China, while it's counterpart in name only sold just 71,072 units in the U.S. during 2006.
The story of GM's Chinese-based design team is certainly a rags to riches one that will culminate in the next few years with PATAC's designing the world's next Buick LaCrosse, due out in 2008 or 2009. As is the custom at GM these days, design chief Ed Welburn pitted his 11 design centers from around the world against each other for the privilege of penning the next LaCrosse. The favored North American team and the underdog Chinese team were clear favorites with the majority of good ideas, so Welburn chose to have both work on the design. The North American team will handle the exterior, while the smaller Chinese team will design the interior. The Chinese designers, though, will also have significant input on the car's exterior since it's expected that China will quickly be Buick's biggest market worldwide.
We think that's just fine, as we reported last November that the Chinese LaCrosse is way cooler than ours. Indeed, the PATAC team's designs are world class compared to the derivitive and downright ugly designs coming from many of China's young automakers. Will the Chinese market one day set trends for the world market? It's a scary though, but who knows? If Joe Qiu becomes the next Ed Welburn at GM, however, things will likely be alright.
[Source: FastCompany.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Kowell 8:13PM (3/19/2007)
Buick Lacrosse? Apon first look I honestly thought this was about the Ford 500/Taurus.
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Bryan 8:31PM (3/19/2007)
I was about to say the same thing! Hey, looks like China and Korea have something in common...copying others designs! It doesn't look bad tho. You know whats really odd/ammusing at the same time? The current Lacrosse looks like a 2000 Ford Taurus in the rear and a 96 in the front!
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Deezee 8:33PM (3/19/2007)
This thing looks old and bloated to me. Horrible.
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lintsniffer 8:34PM (3/19/2007)
Why does GM insist on keeping these useless brands alive?
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why not the LS2/LS7? 8:47PM (3/19/2007)
"Only" 71K units?
That's a lot. What is a success to you?
The taillights are nice. And although I like them, I don't know if I were in the business of selling cars to my dad (and Buick is), I would put those on.
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Petey 9:41PM (3/19/2007)
Buick is considered a luxury brand in China.. its no surprise that they are successful has the Chinese middle class grows. I wouldnt be caught dead in one tough.
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Brad 8:52PM (3/19/2007)
I like it...
Looks better than the US model...
It would be nice if they made it here now...
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Stoneman 8:56PM (3/19/2007)
Japanese automakers have nothing to fear. They have a loyal follower now. (me).
Stoneman
http://www.stonemanautoreview.com
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NOPN 9:00PM (3/19/2007)
Chinese designers?
How American can this car get!
Its an American Revolution!
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Mark 9:02PM (3/19/2007)
China already is the world's largest Buick market.
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LaserBeams 9:45PM (3/19/2007)
It looks a lot better than the current American LaCrosse, much more on par with Buick's other designs. Good job Joe and team.
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Bob Z 9:11PM (3/19/2007)
Ths was a real shock to me. Very mixed feelings.
I agree the chinese design for Buick is better than anything from detroit in several years. The thought of buying chinese Buicks just floors me. Rational thought says they will be better and cheaper cars.
Havin said that I am terrified the we, you and I, are push the US into being a 2nd world country which our kids will have a real hard time making a living. We are squandering our future!!! Where are out leaders???
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Drew 9:18PM (3/19/2007)
I like the idea of pitting design teams against each other...it would seem to me it would bring the best out of the teams and bring the public the best product possible.
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Gerry 8:04PM (3/21/2007)
The rednecks hate it if anyone from Japan comes and does business here, but it's OK for the "Domestics" (that's a joke) to do business wherever they please. If it's a sin for an American to buy a Camry here even though it's built here, and contains 75% US/Can. parts, than how can it be acceptable for foreiners to buy GM in their country in these rednecks minds? GM should show the Chinese landscape during their patriotic "Heartland" commercials-as well as the Mexican factory that puts together every Avalanche and HHR as well as the Korean one that builds the junk Aveo. GM is a joke-CHINESE DESIGNED BUICKS! What's next, a Mexican made Hemi? OOPS! That's where they ALL come from! If I decide to buy a Honda or Toyota, it's none of ANYONES business. Concentrate on what your favorite American company is up to running over the border!
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whofan 9:34PM (3/19/2007)
"We are squandering our future!!! Where are out leaders???"
Well we still have George w. Bush, oh nevermind.
We already blindly believe everthing foriegn is better. The downward spiral of the USA is our own damn fault.
We lost our national pride and our problem solving virtue.
Now we play the blame game and its always the other persons fault. We don`t even acknowlege the good things we do anymore.
The things our forfathers built we are $$$$elling off.
I like cars Ford Toyota GM Honda or whatever. But I`m hard pressed to buy from whats left of the Americam owned auto industry.
We still build good cars even though its not sytlish anymore to Drive Detroit.
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Jim Bennett 9:58PM (3/19/2007)
I travel to China every couple of months and I can say without a doubt that this LaCrosse looks better in person than either the photos or the U.S. version. It is nice from every angle, especially from the rear quarter and the interior is world class. They should have used this from the beginning. It could have been to Buick what the CTS has been for Cadillac, the start of a new day.
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david 9:43PM (3/19/2007)
gerry, why do you consistently lie? Camry is only assembled here and not all. A large percentage are BUILT in Japan and imported here. Look at the Monroney sticker for a change and you'll see that less than 15% of components are built in the US.
For crying out loud quit making up stuff.
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Deezee 9:51PM (3/19/2007)
How the heck can anybody like those tailights?!! They were ugly on the Altima and they're even more ugly on this catastrophe.
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LGM 9:55PM (3/19/2007)
Thats why GM is in a endless crisis.
While VW, Honda and Toyota concentrate its forces in one or two brands, getting stronger day by day, GM and Ford insist in waste lots of money in useless brands. What is a Buick?! A Chevy wannabe Cadillac?
GM should increase Chevrolet, with good and well built cars, like Corsa, Astra, Vectra, Commodore and Statesman, Zafira, Antara, Monaro, Tigra and GT, instead Daewoo cars or brands without shine. Thats what USA deserves.
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RJ 10:12PM (3/19/2007)
David,
I think you're the one who needs to get their facts straight. The FACT is that 80% of the Camry's parts are from the USA/Canada. That is a FACT.
http://www.automotiveaddicts.com/inthenews/07-10-06.html
At least back your "facts" up with a source.
This is truly hilarious. A Buick, designed in China for the American market (And on top of that, a nice looking Buick design for a change.) GM has finally hit rock bottom for sure.......
What's next, the Shanghai Silverado.
American Revolution my ass, previously the Mexican Revolution, now the Chinese Revolution....
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