In terms of its deliberate transition to an all-electric lineup, Normal Motors didn’t end 2023 on the most positive note. Although final 12 months noticed record-high EV gross sales, they had been largely carried by the Chevrolet Bolt twins—each of which had been discontinued in December. Newer, extra trendy choices suffered from delays, software program challenges and manufacturing woes.

However John Roth says he has purpose to be optimistic about 2024. Roth is a longtime GM government who took over as Vice President of World Cadillac final June, and in an interview with InsideEVs not too long ago, one phrase saved developing: “momentum.” 

Particularly, he mentioned, the Cadillac Lyriq is proving to be an actual brilliant spot in GM’s EV lineup. The Lyriq was the best-selling model on GM’s new Ultium platform in This autumn with 3,820 items bought—a brand new file. In reality, the Lyriq alone made up a ten.5% share of Cadillac’s complete quantity. Not dangerous, contemplating the Cadillac model as an entire—together with gross sales of its gas-powered vehicles—was up 9% year-over-year. 

In different phrases, Cadillac is doing higher than many individuals may suppose, and on the electrical facet, the Lyriq is main the best way. That proportion of electrical gross sales places Cadillac near rivals like Mercedes-Benz. EVs made up 11.8% of Mercedes’ world gross sales in 2023, trailing BMW, the place the quantity was nearer to twenty%.

However that hole could also be beginning to shut in 2024. As MotorTrend reported not too long ago, the Lyriq is projected to make up a whopping 25% of GM’s EV gross sales this month, and even larger features are anticipated as that car gets a $7,500 discount regardless of not being presently eligible for tax credit. Roth mentioned he sees extra success on the horizon as Cadillac works to broaden its EV lineup with extra SUVs. 

“With the announcement of Vistiq coming into the portfolio, now we have an awesome providing in each one of many luxurious SUV segments now,” Roth mentioned. “On this calendar 12 months and the following, I feel that provides us a strategic benefit.” 

The Vistiq does appear poised for fulfillment as an all-electric crossover that resembles a form of child Escalade—arguably Cadillac’s most iconic trendy car. 

However like the remainder of GM’s management, Roth has his work reduce out for him. He is the fourth government to steer the Cadillac model since 2018, and he took the helm amid a 12 months crammed with challenges for the automaker’s transformation right into a software-driven, battery-focused firm. Roth added that GM’s aim remains to be “triple zero”—no crashes, no tailpipe emissions and no site visitors congestion—and “Cadillac goes to steer that,” he mentioned. 

And for at the least one in all Cadillac’s most important EVs, issues could also be turning round. 

Roth instructed reporters this week that Lyriq manufacturing is ramping up rapidly as of late. As Reuters famous at present, the posh crossover has been behind targets on account of challenges across the automation of battery module meeting, a problem that has dogged a lot of GM’s Ultium vehicles. (Owners have complained of software issues with the Lyriq too, however to this point the automotive has not been topic to a stop-sale order like its cousin, the Blazer EV, which broke down while fast-charging during a recent InsideEVs test.) 

“You’ll be able to see the momentum ramping,” Roth mentioned. “In case you have a look at the overall business, you are operating about 7% or 8% (of gross sales being totally electrical) for the calendar 12 months. We have carried out a number of homework round what it takes to drive enchantment and consideration for EVs within the market.”

He added, “Once you have a look at the Lyriq being over 300 miles of vary, and also you see the outside design, and [we’re] proper there on the worth worth equation within the market amongst the posh SUVs.” Beginning at $58,590 and properly geared up within the $60,000 vary, the Lyriq undercuts rivals just like the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV by nearly $20,000, and clients have responded effectively to that, Roth mentioned.

Cadillac loyalists will get extra selections quickly. Along with the Vistiq, the model additionally introduced an all-electric Escalade IQ final 12 months, in addition to the Cadillac Optiq. That SUV-heavy lineup could also be a bit complicated, however Roth defined the way it breaks down internally.

“There’s an actual alternative for Lyriq to be the form of mainstream luxurious car that we will see good quantity with, and actually assist propel the general franchise ahead,” he mentioned. The Optiq, he mentioned, is a smaller, extra entry-level crossover. “Actually sporty, enjoyable to drive, perfect-sized car for that particular person who’s coming into their luxurious car,” he mentioned.

The Escalade IQ is the “franchise participant,” he mentioned, one thing that is precisely what it appears to be—an all-electric model of the model’s massively standard giant SUV. And for individuals who need three rows of seats however choose one thing extra crossover-ish, there’s the Vistiq. “It sits properly in between Lyriq and Escalade IQ—three rows, family-oriented, perhaps their first EV,” Roth mentioned. 

One EV that was MIA in 2023, nonetheless, was the long-promised Cadillac Celestiq, a extremely customizable ultra-luxury sedan on account of begin at $340,000. That automotive was additionally presupposed to debut GM’s extra superior Extremely Cruise automated driving help system, however that program has since been folded into the development of the more well-known Super Cruise, as InsideEVs reported this week. However Roth mentioned this ostensible electrical Bentley competitor remains to be on its method. 

“Celestiq is simply getting began,” Roth mentioned. “We’re working by way of the orders with these bespoke clients which might be actually in search of a customized, ultra-luxury expertise with a Cadillac… that car really [came] first after which impressed Lyriq.” 

However all of that begs the query: What does Cadillac have in retailer for electrical sedans? Whereas the U.S. automotive market has grow to be fairly definitively an SUV- and truck-driven one, Cadillac’s most up-to-date gas-powered sport sedans just like the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing have obtained appreciable reward—and a high take rate vs. the more basic models. So does Cadillac have a plan to capitalize on these vehicles’ recognition, however with electrical energy?

“I simply knew you needed to ask that query,” Roth mentioned with fun, including the model has seen “actually robust progress” within the sedan section. “I like my job an excessive amount of to disclose something at present… We’re actually happy general with the efficiency of the Vs and the Blackwings, and fairly frankly the entire CT household. [But] I would not need to speculate.” 

Take notice, Cadillac V-Sequence followers: That is not a tough “no.” 

Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com