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U.S. denies GM tariff relief request for China-made Buick SUV

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has denied a General Motors Co request for an exemption to a 25 percent U.S. tariff on its Chinese-made Buick Envision sport utility vehicle. The denial of the nearly year-old petition came in a May 29 letter from the U.S. Trade Representative's office saying the request concerns "a product strategically important or related to 'Made in China 2025' or other Chinese industrial programs." The midsize SUV, priced starting at about $35,000, has become a target for critics of Chinese-made goods, including leaders of the United Auto Workers union and members in key political swing states such as Michigan and Ohio. GM said on Tuesday it was aware of the denial and has been paying the tariff since July. GM has not raised the sticker price to account for the tariff. Buick Envision sales fell in the United States by nearly 27% to 30,000 last year and fell another 21% in the first three months of 2019. Only a small number of vehicles are built in China and sold in the United States. Last month, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office also denied a request by Chinese-owned Volvo Cars for tariff exemptions for mid-size SUVs assembled in China after the automaker sought an exemption for the XC60, its top selling U.S. vehicle. GM, the largest U.S. automaker, argued in its request that Envision sales in China and the United States would generate funds "to invest in our U.S. manufacturing facilities and to develop the next generation of automotive technology in the United States." GM said last year the "vast majority" of Envisions, about 200,000 a year, are sold in China. Because of the lower U.S. sales volume, "assembly in our home market is not an option" for the Envision, which competes with such mid-size crossover vehicles as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Cadillac XT5. Ahead of the July 2018 start for higher import tariffs, GM shipped in a six-month supply of Envisions at the much lower 2.5 percent tariff rate, Reuters reported in August 2018.

2023 Volvos get mild-hybrid engines, XC40 and S60 see styling tweaks

For 2023, Volvo's entire lineup will now feature both mild-hybrid assist engines and Google Android-based infotainment. Additionally, a couple of models are getting some styling updates. As for powertrains, the XC90, XC40 and V60 Cross Country are finally getting base engines with Volvo's 48-volt hybrid assist. This means that every Volvo on sale will have some level of electrification as standard, and of course plug-in hybrid and full-electric versions of some of its models continue to be offered. The Google Android-based infotainment system's availability is also expanding to the gas-powered XC40 models as well as the S60 and V60 models. As with electrification, this update means every Volvo has the same kind of infotainment. The perks of the new infotainment system include the ability to run apps and features such as Google Maps and Voice Assistant natively in the infotainment system, instead of needing to use a phone. It also enables over-the-air updates so that older models can still have the latest functions. Rounding out the updates are some styling changes for certain models. The S60 and V60 models get new grilles and rear bumper inserts. The XC40 features new headlights, front bumpers and grilles. New colors and wheels are on offer for all models, and Volvo has dropped trim level designations for all cars. The updated Volvo models are going into production with availability this summer. Pricing has not been announced yet. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Jeremy Lin's new Volvo has him working out with the XC60

Jeremy Lin rose to prominence as a point guard for the New York Knicks in February of 2012 when he came out of nowhere to lead the team to a string of victories. Volvo was quick to notice and signed him as the company's US spokesperson that March. Since then, he has starred in several Volvo advertisements, and his latest ad shows just how he uses his Volvo XC60 to train for the court. The highlight is Lin shooting free throws out of the sunroof.
Since leaving the Knicks, Lin has lost some of the visibility and hype that attracted Volvo to him in the first place. Still, commercials must be made, so check out Lin's latest below.