Area Development
Buick is planning to begin building a small crossover vehicle to appeal to younger consumers. GM is already outfitting a plant in Orion Township, Michigan to produce the new car.

GM spokesperson Dayna Hart said the car will look like a smaller version of the Buick Enclave. The company is alsso moving equipment into the Orion plant to build a new model of the Aveo, which will get approximately 40 miles per gallon on the highway. It is expected to hit showrooms next year, and will compete with the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.

Buick has traditionally had an older client base than other brands. In 2000, the average age of a Buick consumer was 66.2. Last year, it dropped to 65 years, but that is still older than the industry average of a 54-year-old buyer.

The Orion plant was in the news last June, when GM decided to use it to build the Aveo, saving 1,200 jobs. Next year, it will build 160,000 cars there.