
Buick (/ˈbjuːɪk/) is a division of the American automobile manufacturer
General Motors (GM). Named for automotive pioneer David Buick, it was among the
first American marques of automobiles, and was the company that established
General Motors in 1908. Before the establishment of General Motors, GM founder
William C. Durant had served as Buick's general manager and major investor.
Buick was the first production automobile maker in the world to equip its cars
with overhead valve engines, which it did in the year 1904.
For much of
its existence in the North American market, Buick has been marketed as a premium
automobile brand, selling larger luxury vehicles positioned above GM's
mainstream brands, while below the flagship luxury Cadillac division. In
addition to wealthier buyers, Buick has also had a reputation of appealing to
older buyers.
In 2016, Buick sold more than 1.44 million vehicles
worldwide, a record for the brand. The main market is China, where 80% of
Buick-branded automobiles are sold. Buicks are also sold in the United States,
Canada, and Mexico.