In-Depth SWOT Analysis of Buick – A Division Of GM

Updated on: Mar 14, 2022

  Hey there!

My name is Aditya Shastri and I have written this case study with the help of my students from IIDE's online digital marketing courses in India.

Practical assignments, case studies & simulations from Harvard Business Review helped the students from this course present this analysis.

Building on this practical approach, we are now introducing a new dimension for our online digital marketing course learners - the Campus Immersion Experience.

If you find this case study helpful, consider leaving a comment below.

In the previous blog, we discussed the complete and in-depth SWOT Analysis of Cars24 which is an online used car marketplace in India. Today we will discuss the SWOT analysis of Buick which is a division of one of the popular automobile manufacturers – GM i.e. General Motors.

Buick is owned by General Motors (GM), a legend with a history dating back over 100 years. Buick is a reliable brand, showing the 4th most improvement out of 26 different vehicle brands in 2020.

Digital marketing has played a major role in the success of Buick. And keeping yourself upgraded with the latest digital marketing trends by attending the Free MasterClass on Digital Marketing 101, hosted by Karan Shah, CEO and Founder of IIDE is very important. Book your seat now.

Now, right before we delve into the SWOT Analysis of Buick, let’s look at the background of the company, its founders, financial status, competitors and products.

Digital Marketing Academic Challenge 2024 - DMAC

About Buick,

SWOT Analysis of Buick - 2019 Buick Regal

Buick is owned by General Motors (GM), who also owns GMC, Buick, and Chevrolet. Buick, a legend with a history dating back over 100 years was started by the pioneer of automotive Mr David Dunbar Buick. Buick is an American automobile manufacturer. Buick was founded in 1899 as Buick Auto-Vim and Power Company and on May 19, 1903, 118 years ago named as Buick Motor Company. 

Buick is the division of General Motors, but originally Buick was the one who established GM in 1908, there was a time when the founder of GM –  William C. Durant served as Buick’s general manager and major investor. Buick’s headquarters are in Detroit, Michigan, United States, Buick became a premium automobile brand when in 1904 Buick’s first car model was manufactured. Currently, the brand is serving the premium automotive and luxury market.

Quick Stats on Buick
Founder David Dunbar Buick
Year Founded 1899
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
No. of Employees 155,000+/td>
Company Type Public
Market Cap US$60.267 Billion of GM
Annual Revenue US$21.6 Billion (2021)
Net Income/ Profit US$2.4 Billion (2021)

 

SWOT Analysis of Buick - Buick Range of Cars


Products & Services by Buick

This company provides premium products to customers.

  • Automobile
  • Automobile parts
  • Vehicle financing
  • Vehicle service and parts


Competitors of Buick

Buick competes on a global level as it produces reliable products. The top 5 competitors of Buick are

  • Honda
  • Mazda
  • Kia
  • Nissan
  • Volkswagen


Now that we understand the company’s key business, let’s look after the SWOT Analysis of Buick.


SWOT Analysis of Buick

SWOT Analysis of Buick can show how a well-established company uses its opportunities to ensure its growth. It can show how the company takes advantage of its strengths to use the opportunities while working on its weaknesses. SWOT Analysis of Buick will also reveal its expansion plans.

To better understand the SWOT analysis of Buick, refer to the infographic below:

SWOT Analysis of Buick - SWOT Infographics of Buick

Now first let’s begin with the strengths of the company from the SWOT analysis of Buick.

Strengths of Buick

  • Design & Advanced Technology: This is the best tool used by the Buick experts to make it still growing in the market along with its electric operating car system and elegant car designs which makes it eye-catchy.
  • Powerful Brand Appearance: Buick is owned by General Motors which is the plus point and the way they inspire people through their advertisements is unbeatable which makes it more prominent in the market.
  • High Calibre Cars: Buick designed iconic SUVs which gave the boost to this automobile company. Buick cars provide comfortable rides and a pleasant sitting environment due to their advanced car system.
  • Popularity Among Elite Class: Buick manufactures luxurious cars which makes it more affordable in high-class society because they can bear the expenses. In other words, their targeted audience is rich people.
  • Market Position: Buick cars are mostly found in 40 countries that are economically stable so the major marketplace of Buick is the USA, Canada and China etc.
  • Cooperative Dealer Community: Buick has friendly relations with its dealers that’s why they are the main source of sales and brand promotion in the market.

Weaknesses of Buick

  • High Prices: Buick cars are still undiscovered by developing and underdeveloped countries due to their high rate. 
  • Rely on the US Market: The scenario was even worse when Buick had to rely on the US market due to covid 19 pandemic in 2019 to 2020 the major source of revenue was only the USA market.
  • Still Not Known in Some Countries: Buick has still not been introduced in some countries of the world which is still an alarming signal. They’ve to set up companies in other countries as well.
  • High Maintenance Rate: The estimated cost of 10 years of Buick car maintenance is $12,500 which means $1,250 per year which is quite expensive.
  • Rental Charges: A high percentage of the estate in use by Buick is on rent, and rental charges are required to be paid.


Opportunities for Buick
           

  • Upgrading Asian Markets: Some Asian countries, in collaboration with Buick, want to establish their own automobile companies which is a 360 degree turnover for a  country. 
  • Internet Marketing: We usually don’t see any Buick advertisements on Youtube, Facebook and other social media platforms which indicates that Buick is missing out on a major chunk of the market which is on the internet. So, Buick must explore the internet to expand its business.

Bonus Tip: You must also learn the latest digital marketing skills such as social media marketing, Facebook & Instagram ads, website development and many more to keep yourself ahead of the competition. Also, learning these skills and adding a badge of expertise is proven beneficial for students in terms of career growth and job opportunities. So do check out for your benefit…

  • Easy Instalments Facilities: If Buick gives its customers cars in easy instalments it will increase its sales globally.
  • Technological Developments: Technology succeeds with numerous advantages among many departments. Operations can be automated to diminish costs. Technology enables better data to be obtained from customers and improves trading accomplishments.
  • Parent Support: With the support of its parent company – GM, Buick can explore newer markets and in-turn possess several acquisitions through financial and advisory support.


Threats to Buick

  • High Competition: Brands like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus are performing better than Buick in the luxury market segment with the help of market coverage and more reach in other nations. 
  • Lack of Independence: Buick is the division of General Motors and if for instance, General Motors faces a financial crisis so there is a high possibility the Buick will also be affected. So, Buick should try its best to work as an independent company in the market.
  • Technological Advancement: Autopilot cars, hybrid cars and Electric cars with a new sense of sound recognition technology are the centres of attention nowadays which is again a threat for Buick cars whose high power engine needs Diesel to operate.
  • Different Countries Make Different Laws: Every country wants to earn more to do so they sometimes make some amendments in their laws, as a result, the Buick has to suffer.
  • New Entrants: There have been various players that have entered the market and are gaining market share by gaining the existing company’s market share. This is a threat to Buick as it can lose its buyers to these new entrants.
  •  


This ends our SWOT analysis of Buick. Let us conclude our learning below.

Digital Marketing Academic Challenge 2024 - DMAC

To Conclude

To conclude the SWOT analysis of Buick, it is obvious that Buick brings a remarkable change in the automobiles industry but it’s not enough they have to adopt some recent technologies and think about the future problems of the world so that they maintain their position in the market.

Buick has a strong grasp over traditional marketing and digital marketing, the scope to utilise the big umbrella of digital marketing is even bigger. As we said in the middle of the article, gaining the requisite skills in this field and completing certified courses may lead to employment opportunities with famous corporations such as Buick.

Just like IIDE offers a 3 Month Advanced Online Course in Digital Marketing which includes all requisites and areas of digital marketing. The course is taught by subject area experts and digital enthusiasts. The course curriculum is curated and fine-tuned with the help of their know-how and experience. Their knowledge and expertise are instrumental in moulding our students into skilled professionals of the future.

We hope this blog on the SWOT analysis of Buick has given you a good insight into the company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

If you enjoy in-depth company research just like the SWOT analysis of Buick, check out our IIDE Knowledge portal for more fascinating case studies.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and do share your thoughts on this case study of the SWOT analysis of Buick in the comments section below.

Share post via

Aditya Shastri

Lead Trainer & Head of Learning & Development at IIDE

Leads the Learning & Development segment at IIDE. He is a Content Marketing Expert and has trained 6000+ students and working professionals on various topics of Digital Marketing. He has been a guest speaker at prominent colleges in India including IIMs......[Read full bio]

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts