Great article this week in the New York Times on the perceptions and stereotypes associated with automobile brands in China. In it, the writer highlights how vastly different Chinese consumers view certain manufacturers.

General Motors’ Buick brand, in particular, is a great example because it has taken on a completely different identity in China than what we know here, stateside. Primarily through creative marketing and a product remodel, Buick was able to position itself as a top-tier luxury car in China. As a result of their efforts, Buick sold three times as many cars in China (550,000) as it did in the United States during 2010.

It’s not very often that a brand gets the opportunity to truly reinvent itself – especially in the luxury sector – but Buick has been successful at revitalizing what was considered by many to be a dead brand. Capitalizing on its successes abroad, Buick has actually begun to gain some ground domestically, as well, with increasingly positive reviews and improving sales numbers.

Either way, as the Chinese market continues to open up to Western brands, we may begin to see other success stories just like this. Personally, I’ve been waiting for Zubaz pants to make a comeback, so if all it takes is a little Chinese intervention then let’s do this!