Insider says Cadillac is coming to Australia – report
Evidence of Cadillac’s return to Australia has been mounting in recent years, and now a company insider says it’s happening – we just don’t know when.
General Motors continues to remain tight-lipped on any plans to relaunch its luxury brand Cadillac in Australia, but sources now confirm it will be happening.
According to a report from website GM Authority, insiders have revealed selected electric Cadillac models have been designed so they can be produced in right-hand drive for markets such as Australia.
While GM executives told Australian media in July 2022 they were considering bringing Cadillac back to local shores, Drive first reported on Australian trademark filings for the Lyriq electric SUV in December 2022, and subsequent trademarks for the Optiq and Escalade IQ in July 2023.
A spokesperson downplayed the trademarks at the time, telling Drive it was common practice to protect product names – despite not filing any trademarks in Australia for more than a decade.
MORE: More evidence emerges of Cadillac’s return to Australia
According to the latest report from GM Authority, the US car giant is “in the midst of a project that would see several Cadillac models offered in right-hand-drive,” for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan.
General Motors shut down Holden in Australia at the end of 2020, but has maintained a presence here through its General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) umbrella – offering both the Chevrolet Silverado and Chevrolet Corvette through its dealer network.
Though yet to be confirmed, this would mark the third known instance of General Motors attempting to launch Cadillac in Australia in the past two decades.
In 2008, GM aborted plans at the 11th hour due to pressure from the Global Financial Crisis – with 100 right-hand-drive vehicles already in the country sent to New Zealand to be sold, while signage destined for Australian dealerships was shipped back to company headquarters in Detroit.
MORE: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq quick drive
In 2015, company executives told Drive it was planning to set up Cadillac in Australia within five years – plans that were likely thwarted due to the closure of Holden and further difficulties created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But while the Chevrolet Silverado is remanufactured by local company Walkinshaw into a right-hand-drive vehicle, it’s understood the electric Cadillacs will be produced as right-hand-drive models from the production line – as is the case with the Corvette.
General Motors has yet to confirm any solid plans to relaunch in Australia, but it’s possible more information will leak ahead of any official announcement.
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