GM Could Ditch Encore, Trax

While the market is awash with crossovers and SUVs, not all of them make the cut. According to the crew at GM Authority, General Motors is planning to axe the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax after the 2022 model year.

Citing unnamed but apparently well-placed sources, GM Authority says production of those two models will cease later this year. The vehicles are assembled side-by-each at a GM plant in South Korea. Alert readers will recall that Buick and Chevy started offering these vehicles about 10 years ago – they were first introduced for the 2013 model year in some markets – but have only thrown the veneer of a mid-cycle refresh at them since that time. Easing these two out of production has likely been in the works for some time since ’22 models are denuded of some trim levels and option packages compared to previous years.

These are small rigs, meant to compete at the far end of the scale in terms of size and price. Last year, they were both handily outsold by their stablemates Trailblazer and Encore GX. The former even managed to knock off the Hyundai Kona in its segment, beating it by about 100 units according to the number supplied by GMA. Nothing else in the segment seems to come close to the Honda HR-V, however, at least in terms of outright sales.

And, before you ask, the Encore GX has little to do with the Encore. In a confusing naming scheme, Buick introduced the Encore GX more recently than the Encore, applying the ‘plate to a machine that is just infinitesimally larger (think just a couple of cubic feet of extra cargo space) compared to the non-GX Encore. The fact that those two consonants sound more like a simple trim level than anything else has also added to some confusion on the dealer floor.

Looking to the bowtie brigade, expect the Trailblazer to take up some of the slack in terms of sales and attention once the Trax shuffles off this mortal coil. And bargain seekers needn’t think they can pick up a Spark after ’22 since that machine is also scheduled to depart the roster next year. This will leave the Trailblazer, whose entry-level LS trim with its 137 horsepower 1.2-liter turbo is currently priced at $22,995 in America when equipped with front-wheel drive.

[Image: GM]