Buick Plug-In Crossover Not Pushing Through
DETROIT - General Motors Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said the decision was made to cancel a "potential underperformer" based on feedback from a recent product showcase.
DETROIT- Less than two weeks after announcing plans to introduce a new Buick plug-in crossover in 2011, General Motors said it has cancelled production on the vehicle.
In his Aug. 19 FastLane Blog, GM Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said the decision to cancel was based on feedback from a recent product showcase at the Milford Proving Ground.
"The Buick crossover we showed received consistent feedback from large parts of all the audiences that it didn't fit the premium characteristics that customers have come to expect from Buick," wrote Stephens.
"It was decided that if it didn't belong, it didn't belong. Buick crossover canceled. Fritz Henderson, Bob Lutz and I and the rest of the committee decided to take swift action to prevent a potential underperformer from reaching the marketplace. And we decided that the important plug-in hybrid technology would be applied to another vehicle, at no delay, that we'll discuss in the very near future," said Stephens.
Noting the efficiency of the new executive committee, Stephens said the decision was carried out in one day.
The automaker announced plans for the crossover Aug. 6.
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