A new report from MLive.com credits an unnamed source as saying that the company’s Orion Township, Mich., assembly plant is gearing up to produce the new small Buick, and that it will be based on the upcoming Chevrolet Aveo successor. On the surface, that makes plenty of sense, especially considering that GM is currently shipping all of the hardware it will need to produce the Aveo to the Orion plant. At the same time, we’re left with a few questions as to why General Motors would be interested in pursuing a new CUV or crossover with the Buick brand, especially after announcing that Chevrolet would not be selling the Orlando here in the United States as initially announced.

The Orlando represented a much-celebrated new direction in the Chevrolet lineup -- one that focused on style, fuel-efficiency and functionality. When we first heard that the vehicle would be sold in Canada, Europe and Asia, but not here in the United States, we first thought GM was attempting to keep the car from cannibalizing sales from the likes of the Equinox. Is it possible that the suits were simply trying to pave the way for this rumored Buick by axing the Chevrolet? It is possible, though considering we haven’t heard anything from GM on the subject either way, we’ll hold onto our skepticism for the time being.