GM: China will influence Buick

DETROIT -- Now that China is Buick's biggest retail market, look for General Motors operations in that country to have a bigger say in Buick's future vehicles.

"We have incredible growth and appeal in China," Buick General Manager Steve Shannon said today during a Buick event at GM's Tech Center in Warren, Mich. "There is the potential for joint product development."

Last year Buick sold about 280,000 vehicles in China, he said. By comparison, U.S. sales totaled, 240,657 units.

As additional models are developed off GM's global vehicle platforms, Shannon said: "There will be a gigantic story to tell in the future between Buick in China and the U.S. You will start to see the fruits of that in the not-too-distant future."