The Buick Envision Is Going American for Its Next Generation.

As GM introduced the “reborn” Chevrolet Bolt last year, the company also revealed it would only be built for about 18 months. That’s a rather unusual decision. After that, the Kansas factory where the Bolt is assembled will be retooled to produce the next-generation Buick Envision. Until now, the Envision has been built exclusively in China and imported to the U.S.

The current-generation Buick Envision debuted in 2020, meaning an all-new third generation will arrive in just over a year. The U.S.-built model is expected to be completely redesigned and will likely offer a hybrid or plug-in hybrid powertrain. GM could even introduce a range-extender version. By then, the company may finally begin offering more hybrid models in the U.S., something many buyers have been waiting for.

Envision sales have remained strong for Buick, with more than 47,000 units sold in 2024 and just over 41,000 last year. Those are solid numbers for a premium compact SUV, making it easy to understand why GM wants to keep the model in its lineup. However, the combination of import tariffs and higher production costs has almost certainly made the Chinese-built Envision much more expensive for GM. Its starting price has also climbed significantly, rising from around $35,000 just two years ago to more than $41,000 today.

Moving production to the U.S. should also help GM respond more quickly to market demand while reducing shipping costs and supply chain delays. Building the Envision alongside other North American models could make future updates and new powertrain options easier to introduce as customer preferences continue to evolve.

With the Polestar brand effectively disappearing from the U.S. market because of tariffs, other Chinese-built models could eventually face similar challenges. Vehicles like the Buick Envision and Lincoln Nautilus may become increasingly difficult to justify as imports if trade policies remain unchanged.

Whatever happens, it now appears almost certain that a U.S.-built Buick Envision is on the way. Local production would eliminate import tariffs, improve profitability for GM, and give the company much greater flexibility, even if manufacturing costs in the U.S. are somewhat higher.

The illustration above shows what the upcoming third-generation Buick Envision could look like.