On March 3rd, SAIC-GM made a significant announcement at a dealer conference. According to domestic media reports, Mr. Zhuang Jingxiong, the General Manager of SAIC-GM, stated:
The dominance of the GL8 remains unshaken, always pursued but never surpassed. Additionally, Buick GL8 will soon introduce a plug-in hybrid version, aiming to become the top choice in its segment. Only the GL8 can surpass the GL8.
Furthermore, he emphasized that SAIC-GM's PHEV represents the strongest plug-in hybrid technology in the joint venture sector, marking the beginning of the plug-in hybrid 2.0 era and launching a counterattack against joint venture competitors.
SAIC-GM's PHEV Smart Hybrid technology focuses on addressing real user pain points rather than relying on exaggerated specifications. It boasts an unparalleled plug-in hybrid technology that is not afraid of range anxiety, offering leading acceleration and overtaking performance compared to competitors under various driving conditions.
As a flagship model of SAIC-GM, the Buick GL8 has long been the "sales champion" in the domestic MPV market. However, since the emergence of the BYD Tang DM-i, the GL8's dominance has been challenged. Last year, with cumulative sales of 119,182 units, the Tang DM-i dethroned the GL8, becoming the best-selling MPV in China.
The loss of the MPV sales crown by the GL8 can be attributed to the increasing competition in the domestic MPV segment and the absence of a new energy version, failing to meet the needs of new energy vehicle users.
With the introduction of the plug-in hybrid version of the Buick GL8, it will now directly compete with the Tang DM-i. Whether it can reclaim the title of "China's MPV leader" remains to be seen.
