Buick Dealers Face Large Charges for EV Sales

Across the automotive industry, dealers must invest in new training, tools, and equipment to support electric vehicles, which requires significant funding.

In a statement to Automotive News (subscription required) published Tuesday, Buick spokesman Sean Poppitt said the average investment required to upgrade a Buick dealership for EVs is $300,000 to $400,000. [There are currently about 2,000 Buick dealers in the U.S.

Poppitt confirmed the buyback plan, but did not say how many dealers have accepted the offer. In most cases, dealers selling Buick also sell at least one other brand of vehicle, so stores could accept the offer and continue their business selling other brands.

In a similar offer made to Cadillac dealers, about two-thirds rejected the takeover offer in favor of the future of EVs. About two-thirds of Ford dealers also plan to invest in upgrades for EVs.

Buick does not sell EVs, at least not in the United States. This will soon change, as Buick has decided to introduce two EVs to its U.S. lineup by the end of 2023: one with conventional proportions and the other with more coupe-like proportions. The U.S. EVs, which may be called the Electra and Electra GS, respectively, are expected to feature styling previewed by Buick's Wildcat EV Concept, which was unveiled in June. Buick will also end the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles in the U.S. as early as 2024. Its lineup is expected to consist solely of EVs by 2030.