General Motors is experiencing a golden moment in China thanks to its Buick brand. The American manufacturer has achieved what few expected: turning a plug-in hybrid into the country’s new technological benchmark.
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The protagonist of this story is the Buick Electra L7a luxury SUV that In just 12 days it exceeded 10,000 units solda figure that positions it as one of the most successful releases of the year.
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The Electra L7 has not only won over consumers for its elegant design and high-end interior, but also for an impressive achievement: a combined range of up to 1,400 kilometers. This data places it well above the equivalent models from BYD, Xiaomi or even Teslaand has been confirmed after a recent driving test that put the most advanced systems on the market to compete.
A competition that changed everything
The test, organized by the specialized media D1EV, brought together 17 vehicles equipped with advanced assistance systems (ADAS) and semi-autonomous driving. The objective was clear: to evaluate which of them offered the most intelligent and safe performance in real urban traffic situations.
The 29-kilometer route through the congested streets of Ningbo was a true obstacle course. The cars had to face 28 traffic lights, sharp turns, roundabouts, blind curves and even artificial obstacles, with the added difficulty that the brands did not know the route in advance.
In that chaotic scenario, The Buick Electra L7 emerged as the absolute winner, leaving behind heavyweights such as the Yangwang U7 from BYD, the Zeekr 9X from Geely and the Xiaomi YU7which barely managed fifth place. The Tesla Model 3, which participated with its well-known system based exclusively on cameras, ended up relegated to ninth position.
The key is in its artificial intelligence
What distinguishes the Electra L7 is not only its autonomy or its refined design, but its electronic brain. This model is the first manufactured in China to integrate R6 Flywheel Big Model technology, a semi-autonomous driving system developed by local startup Momenta.
This advanced software uses artificial intelligence trained with more than 3 billion kilometers of real data collected on roads around the world. Thanks to this, the vehicle is capable of anticipating the behavior of other drivers, maintaining precise trajectories in complex environments and reacting autonomously to unforeseen traffic events.
According to Momenta engineers, the R6 Flywheel Big Model system represents a technological leap that places China at the center of the global race for autonomous driving. And Buick has been able to capitalize on it better than anyone by being the first brand to offer it in a mass-produced vehicle.
Luxury, autonomy and vision of the future
The Buick Electra L7 not only surprises with its technological performance. It is also presented as a luxury hybrid designed for long distances and a premium driving experience.
Its interior, dominated by a widescreen screen and high-quality materialscombines comfort, connectivity and a modern aesthetic that adjusts to the tastes of the Chinese consumer.
Although its base price is around $45,000, its level of equipment and autonomy make it competitive against more expensive rivals. In addition, the commercial success of the model could mark the beginning of a new era for General Motors in China, which seeks to reposition Buick as a brand of innovation and not just tradition.
The victory of the Buick Electra L7 in the D1EV test and its rapid rise in sales are clear signs that General Motors has found the right formula to stand out in the most competitive market in the world. Its combination of luxury, autonomy and advanced technology not only positions it above Tesla or BYD in China, but also makes it a symbol of the new direction the global automotive industry is taking.
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