No Buick threat from China

CHINA is unlikely to deny Australia any long-wheelbase exports in the near or medium term according to GM Asia Pacific president Nick Reilly.

Buick Pontiac and GMC, general manager, Jim Bunnell, had told GoAuto at the New York Auto Show in March that the company would consider sourcing a long-wheelbase replacement for its ageing Lurcerne model from China or Australia.

GM's China operation makes a Holden Statesman-based model called the Park Avenue which Mr Bunnell referred to.

Mr Reilly said last week that he didn't think China would be exporting the Park Avenue to the US any time soon, largely because of the ever-increasing value of the local currency, the RMB.

"Firstly, the Park Avenue in China has been modified quite significantly and is quite an expensive car and with the RMB appreciating as much as it is doing, which it has done a lot as has the Australian dollar, I don't think we would be competitive selling the Chinese product in the US," Mr Reilly said.

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