Buick sees 'roughly flat' North American sales in 2007

The Buick brand expects sales to be "roughly flat" in 2007 compared with a year earlier in its home market of North America, the brand's general manager told reporters today.

Steve Shannon, Buick general manager, said the unit's sales for this year would be constrained by a change in its lineup as it discontinues older models and prepares for the spring launch of the new Enclave crossover.

General Motors has invested heavily to re-establish Buick as a luxury brand in the United States to build on the sales momentum the nameplate has established in the Chinese market in recent years.

GM executives have said the automaker would reduce the number of models offered under the Buick name and accept lower sales volumes in a bid to return it to profitability.