China is one of the key reasons why Cadillac is pushing so aggressively into electrification. The government’s new energy vehicle rules have already led to it becoming the world’s largest market for plug-based vehicles, and the shift will continue, said Carlisle. And while the Trump administration may be ready to ease back on emissions and mileage standards here, Europe and other key markets are tightening up their own mandates, he noted.
“When we get into an electrified world, it opens up new opportunities” for Cadillac to compete in places where it currently has little or no presence, the brand chief said.
Another part of the Caddy comeback strategy is to emphasize self-driving vehicle technology. Its Super Cruise system, which allows extended, hands-free operation on limited-access highways, has been widely praised. It is currently available only on the CT6, but with the “take rate” jumping to about 50 percent of those sedan buyers in recent months, the automaker is looking to expand it to the rest of its lineup over the next several years.
With new products and new technology, Caddy officials say they’re confident they’ve finally got some positive momentum going. Perhaps. But the division that long touted itself as “the standard of the world” is going to have to work hard to live up to that mantra.
Source : CNBC
