Cadillac Isn’t Set On Selling Only EVs by 2030
Cadillac announced that it will no longer pursue an exclusively electric vehicle lineup by the brand’s previously established 2030 deadline. The company is still in the process of offering electric vehicles across all of its market segments, but remains ready to meet customer demand for internal combustion and hybrid vehicles.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the announcement came by way of Global Cadillac Vice President John Roth during a media event on Wednesday. Roth noted that while Cadillac will offer all electric vehicles by 2030, the brand will likely continue the sale of traditional combustion vehicles for some time after that. This is a major departure for the brand, which has advertised its intentions to become the first fully-electric brand within the General Motors umbrella. In fact, former Cadillac and GM of North America President Steve Carlisle had previously stated that 2030 would be “the end of the ICE age for Cadillac.” Current GM President Of North America Rory Harvey issued a similar sentiment back in 2021, stating outright that Cadillac wouldn’t sell gasoline powered cars after 2030.
Cadillac’s initial plans have been tempered by the reality of the electric vehicle market here in the United States. While EV sales continue to grow in the States, the rate of adoption has not kept pace with automaker’s plans for the end of the decade. Cox Automotive reports that while EV sales were up 2.6 percent during the first quarter of the year compared to 2023, they were down 15.2 percent compared to Q4 of 2023. That’s a fairly dramatic shift, especially when you consider that the Q4 figures were already down when compared to years prior. Peaks and valleys are to be expected during this transitional period, but as we pointed out in February 2023 the numbers aren’t adding up to support a total shift to EVs for traditional OEMs. These companies aren’t prepared to walk away from what will still be the majority of their sales, even in the most optimistic EV projections.
Cadillac isn’t alone in its decision to walk back its lofty EV goals. Bentley has also announced that it will no longer commit to selling exclusively EVs by 2030. It won’t be a shock to see more automakers follow suit, particularly as other GM properties are concerned. So while you can still expect a wave of new electric products from Cadillac, there is a reason it has updated nearly its entire internal combustion lineup.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.
