Buick unveils a high-tech electric minivan for China, leaving U.S. buyers watching from afar.
U.S. buyers are out of luck this time. Buick has unveiled its new flagship electric minivan, the Buick Encasa EV, but it’s headed exclusively to the Chinese market. While Buick’s U.S. lineup has largely settled into a handful of understated crossovers, China is getting a futuristic EV packed with features you’d expect in a private jet.
The Encasa name isn’t entirely new. It first appeared on a plug-in hybrid version revealed late last year, and now Buick is expanding the lineup with a fully electric model. The minivan rides on a dedicated EV platform developed by General Motors. It uses a 96 kWh battery pack and a 900-volt electrical system—a notable step up compared to vehicles like the GMC Hummer EV, which relies on a dual 400-volt setup that can switch to 800 volts during charging.
The standout feature here is charging speed. Buick claims peak charging capability of 640 kW, allowing the battery to go from 10% to 80% in about 11.5 minutes under ideal conditions. Estimated range comes in at about 373 miles on the Chinese CLTC cycle.
Performance is solid, too: dual electric motors, all-wheel drive, 646 horsepower, and roughly 406 lb-ft of torque, with 0–62 mph handled in about 5.1 seconds.
On the outside, the Encasa EV introduces Buick’s new “Land Jet” design language. The body is long and sleek, with a drag coefficient of 0.258 Cd, and there’s even a matte gray finish that highlights its aerodynamic shape.
Inside, the focus is comfort—what many Chinese buyers describe as a “living room on wheels.” The cabin features a 2+2+3 seating layout, with second-row seats that recline into lounge mode. There are screens everywhere, including a massive augmented reality head-up display reportedly measuring 50 inches. Other highlights include air suspension with adjustable ride height, a built-in refrigerator, rear entertainment displays, and an advanced driver-assistance system powered by Momenta software with reinforcement learning.
Pricing in China starts at around $68,000, positioning the Encasa EV as a premium offering. For now, though, it’s another example of a cutting-edge vehicle that won’t be making its way to American showrooms anytime soon.