2004 Cadillac Srx Awd on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Cadillac president reveals XTS sedan refresh, flagship vehicle plans

Update: The second paragraphed has been changed from the original text to make it clear that de Nysschen, not Autoblog , claimed the report by The Detroit Bureau is inaccurate. Cadillac has been on a tear ever since the automaker poached Johan de Nysschen from Infiniti, becoming a more profitable automaker while delving deeper into the luxury market. While some reports indicate that Cadillac may be limiting its lineup, de Nysschen just put everything out in the open. In the comment section of an article by The Detroit Bureau that claimed Cadillac would cut its lineup down, de Nysschen stated the report was inaccurate and outlined the automaker's future. The Cadillac CEO wrote "Some of what you report is correct, some incorrect, most is conjecture." A Cadillac spokesperson confirmed that de Nysschen did write the comment, but did not comment on any of the details. The Detroit Bureau's Paul Eisenstein told Autoblog that he stands behind the information in the report. In any case the most interesting tidbit in de Nysschen's comment is the major refresh for the Cadillac XTS. The news directly contradicts previous reports that indicated the XTS would be killed off by 2019. In Cadillac's pursuit to add some space between it and GM, the XTS was expected to get the axe in favor of more profitable vehicles. The sedan, which was introduced in 2012, shares its underpinnings with the latest generation of the Chevrolet Impala. To the contrary, Nysschen stated that "We ARE planning a major refresh for XTS." What the major refresh will bring the aging sedan is still a mystery, but the vehicle isn't dying. The move to keep the XTS in its lineup is a bit of a surprise as Cadillac has filled its lineup with track-oriented sports cars, rear-wheel-drive sedans, and extravagant crossovers. The boat-like XTS with its front-wheel-drive layout and available all-wheel-drive system sticks out like a sore thumb, even if it were to receive a major overhaul. The only real explanation is that Cadillac hopes the vehicle will still appeal to its old-school customers that are unwilling to compromise interior space and ride quality. In our most recent review of the XTS, we thought the luxurious sedan was a great long-distance cruiser, but not a talented sports car – no surprises there. It's unlikely that Cadillac will focus on driving pleasure with the refreshed XTS, focusing instead on pure comfort and luxury.

GM promises to add 20 EVs and fuel-cell cars to lineup, paid for by SUVs

DETROIT — General Motors outlined plans on Monday to add 20 new battery electric and fuel-cell vehicles to its global product lineup by 2023, financed by robust profits from sales of gasoline-fueled trucks and sport utility vehicles in the United States and China. "General Motors believes in an all-electric future," GM global product development chief Mark Reuss said on Monday during a briefing at the company's suburban Detroit technical center. Future generations of GM electric vehicles "will be profitable," Reuss said, but added it was not clear when GM could make all its new vehicle offerings zero-emission electric cars. Regulators in China and some European countries have floated proposals to ban internal combustion engines by 2030 or 2040. "We will continue to make sure our internal combustion engines will get more and more efficient," Reuss said. GM shares were up more than 4 percent in midday New York trading on positive comments from Rod Lache, auto analyst at Deutsche Bank. Automakers, including electric vehicle market leader Tesla, lose money on electric cars because battery costs are still higher than comparable internal combustion engines. The company offered sneak peeks of three EV prototypes: a Buick SUV, a sporty Cadillac wagon and a futuristic pod car wearing a Bolt badge. GM funds its forays into new technology using a river of cash generated by old-technology vehicles popular with its core customer base in the United States heartland. In comparison, Tesla has burned through an estimated $10 billion in cash and has yet to show a full year profit. GM earned more than 90 percent of its $12.5 billion in pretax profits last year in North America, amid robust demand for its lineup of large sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks. The company's profitable operations in China rely on consumer demand for an expanding lineup of gasoline powered SUVs. GM has previously announced plans to make some of its future electric vehicles capable of driving themselves in robot taxi fleets. The company offered sneak peeks of three electric vehicle prototypes: a Buick brand sport utility vehicle, a sporty Cadillac wagon and a futuristic pod car wearing a Bolt badge. GM collaborated with Korean battery maker LG Chem to build the Bolt battery system. Company officials did not say what companies would supply batteries for the larger fleet of vehicles promised by 2023. Fuel-cell vehicles will also play a role in GM's future, the company said.

GM struggles to sell small cars, plans to lay off 2,084 employees at two plants

Due to low demand for some of its vehicles, General Motors plans to cut 2,084 jobs at its assembly plants in Lordstown, OH and Lansing, MI. At the same time, the automaker also announced plans to invest approximately $900 million in three of its facilities – the Toledo Transmission Operations in Ohio, Bedford Casting Operations in Indiana, and Lansing Grand River in Michigan - for future products. GM will discontinue the third shift at both the Lansing Grand River plant and the Lordstown, OH plant. The Cadillac ATS, Cadillac CTS, and Chevrolet Camaro are made at the automaker's plant in Michigan, which currently has 2,700 employees. The move to eliminate the third shift affects 810 hourly workers, as well as 29 salaried employees, starting on January 16th. The plant in Lordstown, OH currently has 4,500 employees and makes the Chevrolet Cruze sedan. The plan to discontinue the third shift will affect 43 salaried workers and 1,202 hourly employees and will start on January 23rd. As Fortune points out, sales of the Cruze are down 20 percent through October, while sales of the Cadillac ATS and CTS were down 17 percent through the same period of time. In addition to cutting the third shift at both assembly plants, the automaker plans to invest a total of $900 million between three of its facilities for unnamed future products. GM's Toledo Transmission Operations will receive $667.6 million, the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant will receive $211 million, and the automaker's Bedford Casting Operations will get $37 million. Last year, GM cut roughly 500 jobs from its Orion Township factory due to slow sales of the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano, with surging crossover and SUV sales as the most likely culprit. With GM posting much healthier sales figures for the Chevrolet Equinox and Cadillac XT5 compared to the ATS, CTS, and Cruze, it looks like compact SUVs are to blame for this year's layoffs as well. Related Video: News Source: Fortune, General MotorsImage Credit: REUTERS / Rebecca Cook Hirings/Firings/Layoffs Plants/Manufacturing Cadillac Chevrolet GM Coupe Sedan Lordstown Ohio