Less than a year after its launch in China, sales of the new Buick LaCrosse have reached 100,000 units.

The LaCrosse is the fastest-growing member of China’s premium upper-medium sedan segment. In the first six months of 2010, the LaCrosse 3.0-liter SIDI model accounted for nearly 80 percent of the segment (upper-medium sedans priced over RMB 300,000, or roughly $44,200 USD).

The LaCrosse, which also was introduced as a redesigned model in the U.S. in 2009, has been recognized for its sculpted exterior styling and luxurious interior. It features a suite of advanced personal technologies and safety features that rate among the best in the industry.

In the U.S. LaCrosse offers a standard, fuel-efficient, direct injected Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine in the CX and CXL FWD models. That engine delivers an EPA-rated 30 mpg on the highway and 19 mpg in the city – making LaCrosse one of the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment. The 3.6L direct injected V-6 is available on the CXL and CXS models provide 27 city/17 highway fuel economy ratings.

The LaCrosse has received several prestigious awards in China, including 2009 China Car of the Year and 2009 Champion Car of the Year. The version sold in the U.S. received the Top Safety Pick Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and MotorWeek Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Luxury Sedan. It also took top honors in the large car class in Consumer Guide’s 2010 Best Buy and Recommended Awards.

Buick posted a 53 percent sales increase in June compared to the same month last year. For the calendar-year-to-date, total sales are up 48 percent over last year. Driven by the momentum around the LaCrosse and Enclave, retail sales saw a 28 percent increase for the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year sales gains.

LaCrosse total sales in June rose 174 percent and retail sales increased 143 percent compared to the same month last year. The LaCrosse is making its mark with new customers with 42 percent of LaCrosse sales coming from non-GM makes. Out of those customers trading in a non-GM make, 19 percent of sales are coming from import vehicles.

The Enclave posted a 21 percent increase in total sales over June 2009, and calendar-year-to-date sales are up 26 percent. The Enclave has the highest conquest rate for Buick, with 52 percent of sales coming from non-GM makes.

“The June sales numbers demonstrate that customers are continuing to recognize Buick’s design, quality, performance and value,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick GMC sales. “The momentum around Buick continues to get stronger, and we are encouraged by the attention around the launch of the Regal.”

The 2011 Buick Regal is now arriving on dealer lots and will build on the momentum of the LaCrosse and Enclave. The advertising campaign for the Regal is launching throughout July and will continue the “New Class of World Class” theme initiated with the LaCrosse launch last year. Consumers looking to connect with the Regal can contact their local dealer to schedule a test drive.

General Motors said Wednesday its US sales rose 16.6 percent in May from a year earlier, the eighth consecutive month of gains for the top US automaker.

GM said 223,822 cars and trucks were sold in May, outpacing April sales of 183,091 vehicles.

The carmaker, which was rescued from bankruptcy by the federal government last year, said that sales of four brands it retained following restructuring -- Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac -- rose 31.8 percent from May last year.

Steve Carlisle, vice president of GM's US sales operations, said that GM's brands have outperformed the US auto market thanks to the company's newest products.

"Each of our brands has new products that are being received well by customers. In fact, these new vehicles now account for about one in every four retail sales in the US," he said.

Last month, GM reported a post-bankruptcy quarterly profit for the first time in three years on the back of a jump in sales and cost-cutting measures.

GM entered a government-backed bankruptcy reorganization on June 1, 2009, with liabilities of 172.8 billion dollars.

The company emerged from bankruptcy protection on July 10 with 48.4 billion dollars in debt.

The US government -- which has provided some 50 billion dollars in financing -- received a 60.8 percent stake in the new firm called General Motors Company.

Canada, which extended 9.1 billion dollars in loans, has an 11.7 percent stake and a United Auto Workers union retiree healthcare trust fund holds 17.5 percent

Not even on the dealer lot for 24 hours, the first 2011 Buick Regal was sold this past weekend in Elgin, Ill. by the Woody Buick GMC dealership outside Chicago. The owner of the Regal is a 44 year old executive at a manufacturing company in the Chicago area.

“The Regal is a superb car to drive on the road, with more of a European feel than any other car we looked at,” said the new owner. “My 15 year-old daughter has already said she wants to take the car to college with her in a few years.”

The new Regal owner traded in a 2007 Saturn Outlook and stated that the Regal offered all the right features in the right size. He also looked at the Toyota Camry and Audi A4, but decided on the Regal because it had all the amenities of a premium vehicle without the costly price tag.

“We are encouraged to see that the first Regal was sold within 24 hours of hitting the dealership lot,” said Roger McCormack, director of marketing for Buick. “The Regal is the next chapter in Buick’s modern transformation and will continue attracting new buyers to the brand.”

Rooted on the award-winning Opel Insignia, the Regal is armed with two 4-cylinder engines, including one with turbocharged horsepower coming late this year, a driver-selectable suspension system and a firm, European-tuned chassis that delivers a driving experience that rivals the best import sport sedans in the segment.

The Regal has attracted praise from automotive critics, including:

• Joe DeMatio of Automobile magazine called the Regal “a very well tuned, near-luxury sport sedan that, in terms of sheer driving pleasure, surpasses anything else in its class made in Detroit these days, not to mention imports like the Acura TSX and the Lexus ES350.”
• Motor Trend’s editor-in-chief, Angus MacKenzie said, “Well-equipped and beautifully styled inside and out, the Regal CSX and Turbo are suave and sophisticated sedans that have what it takes to appeal to buyers who would normally drive right past the Buick showroom on their way to the Acura or Lexus store.”
• Patrick Hong with Road & Track wrote, “The new Buick Regal sports sleek styling and a rich interior that rivals the Japanese and European brands. The driving dynamics on the road are akin to those of a European sports sedan.”

The new Regal is now arriving at dealerships across the country. It is currently assembled in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Starting in the first quarter of 2011 the Regal will be manufactured at the Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Oshawa, Ontario Canada. Pricing start at $26,995 for the premium CXL model and the turbo model will start at $29,495, including a $750 destination charge.

The all new 2010 Buick LaCrosse continues to be one of the driving forces behind Buick’s seventh consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases by posting its best retail month since launch in April. The LaCrosse posted 4,722 retail sales for the month, which is a 237 percent increase from the same month last year and a 153 percent increase for the calendar-year-to-date.

Consumers have purchased nearly 27,000 LaCrosse models since it was launched in the summer of 2009. Demand continues to hold strong and a third shift has been added to the Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City, Kan. where the LaCrosse is manufactured.

“We are pleased to see that the LaCrosse had its best retail sales month in April and the vehicle continues to sell three times faster than the model it replaced,” said Roger McCormack, Buick marketing director. “The demand for the LaCrosse is showing no signs of slowing down, and proves that buyers are searching for a premium vehicle without the premium price.”

The LaCrosse is continuing the momentum started by the Enclave in reshaping the face of Buick by attracting younger and more affluent buyers to the brand. Nearly 42 percent of buyers are trading in non-GM makes, and of those customers trading in a non-GM vehicle 22 percent are trading in an import. The vehicle also has had almost a 20 percentage point residual value improvement over the previous model.

The LaCrosse, a luxury sedan completely redesigned for 2010, has been praised for its exterior styling and luxurious interior and features a suite of advanced personal technologies and safety features that rate among the best in the industry. In addition to two fuel-saving V-6 engines, a new fuel-efficient, direct inject Ecotec 2.4L four-cylinder engine will be available with the LaCrosse CX model this spring. LaCrosse is the only sedan in its competitive set with an available four cylinder engine.

Buick total sales were up 36 percent in April compared to the same month last year, posting its seventh straight month of U.S. sales increases. Retail sales were up 42 percent for the month.

Sales were led by the Enclave and LaCrosse, which continue to broaden the appeal of Buick to new audiences. The LaCrosse, Buick’s luxury sedan, saw a 237 percent increase and the Enclave saw a 29 percent increase in retail sales in April.

“We are pleased to see that for the seventh straight month Buick has had double digit year-over-year sales increases,” said Brian Sweeney, U.S. vice president of Buick-GMC sales. “The LaCrosse and Enclave continue to appeal to buyers searching for a premium vehicle without the premium price.”

Redesigned from the ground up, the LaCrosse is continuing the momentum started by the Enclave. For the first quarter in 2010, 42 percent of Buick sales came from non-GM makes.

This spring, Buick will launch the 2011 Regal sports sedan to extend the Buick line-up. The Regal’s development is rooted on the award-winning Opel Insignia – 2009 European Car of the Year – and will bring all of the Insignia’s award-winning design, technology and European-inspired performance capabilities to the American market.

The Buick Regal is already attracting strong praise from auto critics. The Detroit News’ automotive critic Scott Burgess stated that, “the Regal has the soul of the thoroughbred. And that's where the fun starts.”

The Buick New Regal sedan from Shanghai GM has received a maximum five-star safety rating from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC), which recently released its China New Car Assessment Program ratings.

A U.S. version of the Regal will be in Buick showrooms in May.

The New Regal received 49.7 points overall and a maximum score of 16 points in side impact crash tests against a moving deformable barrier. In frontal crash tests it received a score of 15.03 out of 16 points, while in a 40 percent front offset crash test, it scored 15.65 out of 16 points. The New Regal received an additional three points for having a front seat seatbelt alert system, side air bags and side curtain air bags, and the ISOFIX anchoring system for child safety seats.

“We are pleased but not surprised by the results,” said GM China Group President and Managing Director Kevin Wale. “GM has made safety a priority in all of our vehicles built and sold in China. The New Regal’s design and occupant restraint systems are intended to meet all current and anticipated crash safety standards around the world.”

The New Regal has a strong passenger safety cell protected by front and rear crumple zones. Special attention was given to minimizing the risk of intrusion from the engine. For improved side-impact protection, steel door beams are mounted diagonally to help engage the side structure more effectively in spreading crash forces.

A new active head restraint for the front seats was introduced in the New Regal to help reduce the risk of neck injury in a rear-end collision. The front portion of the head restraint is pushed forward 45 millimeters by a new cable linkage, which is sufficient to restrict rearward head movement.

Dual chamber head/thorax air bags are mounted on the outboard sides of the front seatbacks and full-length curtain air bags are installed in the roof. For further passenger protection, three-point seatbelts are provided for all seating positions, including the middle of the rear seat, with pyrotechnic pre-tensioners and load limiters on the front belts.

In addition, tire sensors warn the driver if the pressure in any of the tires drops below the recommended level. Sensors in the valves initiate a radio signal and a warning message is illuminated on the main instrument display.

The Buick New Regal was introduced in China in December 2008. Through the end of March 2010, Shanghai GM had sold 101,773 New Regals nationwide.

John Schwegman, U.S. marketing vice president for Buick GMC, today announced the appointment of Roger McCormack, 44, to the position of product marketing director for Buick, effective immediately. McCormack had been U.S. vehicle marketing director for Cadillac since November 2008. He replaces Craig Bierley who was named director of Buick GMC advertising and sales promotion last month.

“Roger brings a wealth of product and marketing experience to the job, and clearly understands the luxury automotive business, having spent time at Cadillac, HUMMER and Saab,” said Schwegman. “His expertise will be invaluable in continuing the transformation of Buick.”

In his new role McCormack is responsible for brand marketing strategy and product planning for all Buick products, including the newest member of the Buick family, the 2011 Buick Regal midsize sport sedan, arriving in the U.S. this spring. McCormack joined GM in 1989 as a field manager for Chevrolet Motor Division based in St. Louis, Miss. He has held numerous leadership positions in product development, marketing, and market analysis. McCormack was most recently U.S. Vehicle marketing director for Cadillac, where he was also responsible for HUMMER and Saab, handling strategic and tactical marketing, product, pricing and incentive initiatives. Prior to that assignment he was the marketing director for Saab USA.

On the heels of the arrival of Apple’s iPad, Buick announced that will be one of only six companies to advertise on The Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) iPad application. The WSJ application will allow Buick’s LaCrosse advertisement to engage consumers with the ability to take advantage of the iPad’s large touch screen, technology and connection to the Internet on the tablet computer.

“We are excited to be one of the exclusive Wall Street Journal iPad application advertisers as Buick continues to find new and innovative ways to reach consumers,” said Craig Bierley, Director, Buick GMC Advertising and Sales Promotion. “The buzz around launch of the iPad continues to grow, and we believe Wall Street Journal readers will be some of the first to purchase the latest technology from Apple.”

The LaCrosse creative that is running on the WSJ iPad application engages the user with ads between each section, after each article and when swiping past certain pages, which allows the user to tap the touch screen to learn more about the LaCrosse. A rotation is being run of three full page digital print ads, and an expandable 'toaster' unit, a unique unit to the iPad. Mobile, print and display advertising were also part of this LaCrosse media buy.

Vehicles in the Buick lineup, including the all-new LaCrosse, Enclave and the launch of the Regal this summer, are available with a host of personal technology and digital connectivity features, including in-dash navigation, Bluetooth, a USB port, heads-up display in the windshield and Side Blind Zone Alert.

The WSJ application became available on April 3, 2010, and seeks to maintain the same experience associated with reading a traditional print copy of the paper.

It has happened to every driver at one time or another; another vehicle hiding in your blind spot when you are trying to change lanes. Even when no crash results, your heart pounds from the adrenaline rush of the close call.

Help in preventing these all-too-frequent near misses is available in the form of a small orange icon that appears on the side mirrors of the 2010 Buick LaCrosse. The aptly named Side Blind Zone Alert system uses radar-equipped sensors to provide an extra set of “eyes” to monitor the vehicle’s side blind spots.

How prevalent are blind spot incidents? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says improper lane changes are a factor in up to 85 percent of all crashes.

“The blind zone technology system enables the car to see where it is difficult for the driver to see,” said Kent Lybecker, a GM active safety systems engineer. “This technology makes lane changes safer because it alerts driver’s to vehicles that otherwise might escape their vision.”

If the Side Blind Zone Alert system detects a vehicle in the adjacent lane, the system will illuminate a symbol on the side view mirror alerting the driver to a potential collision. If the driver activates the turn signal in the direction of the detected vehicle, the symbol will flash. Otherwise it remains illuminated until the other vehicle has left the blind zone.

The system uses alternating radar beams that sweep outward from the vehicle, covering a zone of about one lane wide on both sides of the vehicle. The zone also extends back approximately 10 feet from the rear of the vehicle for an added layer of protection.

The LaCrosse is one of 27 new vehicles to be named a Top Safety Pick for 2010 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The award recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting occupants in front, side, rear and rollover crashes based on Institute testing.

Although Side Blind Zone Alert is intended to help drivers avoid lane change mishaps, the driver still needs to turn to check blind zones manually before changing lanes.