The $60,000 Lyriq crossover, Cadillac’s first-ever electric vehicle, went into production on Monday. The SUV is expected to be the first vehicle in General Motors’ battery-electric lineup, which will be available by 2030. Demand for the automobile, which goes on sale in May, caused Cadillac to increase manufacturing to 25,000 units this year, up from the prior projection of 3,200 units, and to debut nine months early.
That’s good news for GM, which just announced a $35 billion investment to introduce 30 new electric vehicles internationally over the next three years. The carmaker spent $2 billion preparing its Spring Hill, Tennessee, production facility, which is the company’s largest in North America, to construct the Lyriq and other electric vehicles.
The investment is part of GM’s wider goal to compete with behemoths like Tesla and Volkswagen, which are investing $100 billion on electrification. Globally, EV manufacturing has been impeded by a supply chain crisis for semiconductors and batteries. The Ultium battery technology that supports the Lyriq and other GM EVs will be used in future models. Its modular architecture, which can manufacture 19 alternative battery and motor combinations, will aid GM’s battery-electric operations in scaling and cost reduction.
The Spring Hill facility also produces gas-engine SUVs such as the Cadillac XT5 and XT6 and the GMC Acadia, in addition to the Lyriq. GM President Mark Reuss told reporters on Monday that the factory will add additional electric vehicles to its assembly lines, but he declined to say when or whether the plant will build entirely electric vehicles. Reuss stated, “We have the freedom to go both ways.” “We’ve found the ideal location. We can make internal combustion engines, electric vehicles, and market-driven vehicles.”
The Cadillac Lyriq, an all-electric crossover with luxury and tech features, was presented by GM on Thursday. It seeks to usher the brand into a new age of electrification by promising a range of more than 300 miles. However, Cadillac’s new age will have to wait. The Lyriq will go into production in the United States in late 2022, more than two years after it unveiling. The Cadillac Lyriq will be a worldwide product, which means it will also be sold in China. According to Cadillac, production in China will begin ahead of that in the United States.
The Lyriq is one of 20 electric vehicles that General Motors expects to release by 2023. It will, however, be pivotal for the Cadillac brand. GM’s vice president of global design, Michael Simcoe, remarked during the unveiling, “The Lyriq sets the bar for future Cadillacs.” From the “black crystal” grille and jewelry box-styled drawer to the 33-inch vertical LED touchscreen display and AKG sound system, the Lyriq reflects the types of luxurious touches a Cadillac client has grown to anticipate.
