- A Buick spokesperson confirmed to C/D that Buick's first EV will be an SUV called Electra, scheduled to debut for the U.S. in 2024.
- Buick has just debuted the Electra E5 for China, and we think this model is likely to come to the U.S.
- Buick has trademarked Electra E1 through E9 names, hinting at its future lineup.
Buick is bringing back its Electra nameplate, first used in 1959, for a new range of EVs. We knew that much from a previous trademark filed for the name, but now a Buick spokesperson has confirmed to C/D that the brand will launch the first Electra model, an electric SUV, in the U.S. in 2024. We think this first model could be the Electra E5, just revealed for the China market, that you see here.
The new Electra E5 uses GM's Ultium battery platform and is a compact SUV. This model appears to be closely related to the Equinox EV, as it rides on the same 116.3 inch wheelbase as the Chevy. It incorporates design elements from Buick's Wildcat concept and features the latest iteration of the tri-shield logo. Full specs and interior photos are still under wraps, but we'd guess that the Buick will be more luxurious inside than the Equinox.
Buick declined to comment on the exact size and nomenclature of the Electra model it plans to reveal for the U.S. market in 2024. But we do know that the brand has filed trademarks for Electra E1 through E9, covering all its bases for a wide lineup of electric SUVs ranging from subcompact to full-size. Even if the E5 isn't the first Electra model to come to our shores, we still think it's a likely candidate for the U.S. market at some point. It would compete in the compact EV SUV segment that currently includes the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4.
Stay tuned for more news on the Electra E5 and plenty of information still to come about Buick's new Electra lineup of EVs.
Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas—or perhaps because of it—Joey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
