Cadillac's sales collapse in China, down 50 percent in four years

GON

GON

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Came across an article on Cadillac's desire to be an American luxury automobile. I would gladly buy a new Cadillac if the vehicle was at the same quality and reliability level of a Lexus. I would buy a new Cadillac today. I want a reliable, quiet looking luxury car, not a boisterous loud looking luxury automobile.

What I found eye opening in the article is Cadillac's sales in China have fallen 50 percent in four years. From 200k Cadillac's sold in China in 2020, to 100k Cadillac's sold in China in 2024.

Actually, I should not have been surprised. China offers western automobiles a foot in the door in China, and after the factories are built, and other related activities, China behind the scenes ruthlessly steers sales to Chinese products.

https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/05/05/gm-general-motors-cadillac-luxury-brand.html?amp_js_v=0.1&amp_gsa=1#webview=1
 
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GON said:
Actually, I should not have been surprised. China offers western automobiles a foot in the door in China, and after the factories are built, and other related activities, China behind the scenes ruthlessly steers sales to Chinese products.
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This statement above hits the nail on the head. China is ramping up production of it's own vehicles that are competing against GM. From my link below: "The two local brands, Baojun and Wuling, have maintained steady Chinese market share since 2017, Svigos says,"

Buick was historically much more popular vs. Cadillac in China up until recent years. This article claims that Buick and Chevy are on a huge downslide and that GM is actually trying to push Cadillac more. https://www.autoweek.com/news/a60814713/gm-committed-to-china-amid-plummeting-sales/

Now, “General Motors seems to be focusing on Cadillac in China as Buick’s market share continues to slide,” says Sam Fiorani, vice president of global forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions. “Once a strong player in the region, Buick has fallen out of the top 10 among best-selling brands while Cadillac is slowing growing and Chevrolet remains an also-ran.”

I wonder if something similar will happen with John Deere regarding its China manufacturing plants.
 
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I really liked the DTS, with the exception of the Northstar engine. Funny, the aftermarket head bolt kits solved a lot of Northstar engine issues.

If Cadillac made a quiet exterior sedan, with the reliability and quality of a Lexus, I would buy a new Cadillac today. What I don't want is a loud looking Cadillac, that has great performance stats, but was built for the stats instead of being built for quality and reliability.

06122461990003.webp
 
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doitmyself said:
This statement above hits the nail on the head. China is ramping up production of it's own vehicles that are competing against GM. From my link below: "The two local brands, Baojun and Wuling, have maintained steady Chinese market share since 2017, Svigos says,"

Buick was historically much more popular vs. Cadillac in China up until recent years. This article claims that Buick and Chevy are on a huge downslide and that GM is actually trying to push Cadillac more. https://www.autoweek.com/news/a60814713/gm-committed-to-china-amid-plummeting-sales/

Now, “General Motors seems to be focusing on Cadillac in China as Buick’s market share continues to slide,” says Sam Fiorani, vice president of global forecasting for AutoForecast Solutions. “Once a strong player in the region, Buick has fallen out of the top 10 among best-selling brands while Cadillac is slowing growing and Chevrolet remains an also-ran.”
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Interesting article. A longer read but lots of relevant discussions in the article, thanks for posting the link.

From the article you posted, which was published 11 months ago:

"What if China grabs General Motors’ intellectual and physical property and kicks you out? I once asked an executive at a holiday party. It was either December 2007 or ‘08. The executive clearly hadn’t considered this scenario, but quickly dismissed it."

Additionally, the article you linked may also be implying China believes all vehicles be manufactured exclusively in China, not only for domestic consumption, but globally.
 
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GON said:
Came across an article on Cadillac's desire to be an American luxury automobile. I would gladly buy a new Cadillac if the vehicle was at the same quality and reliability level of a Lexus. I would buy a new Cadillac today. I want a reliable, quiet looking luxury car, not a boisterous loud looking luxury automobile.

What I found eye opening in the article is Cadillac's sales in China have fallen 50 percent in four years. From 200k Cadillac's sold in China in 2020, to 100k Cadillac's sold in China in 2024.

Actually, I should not have been surprised. China offers western automobiles a foot in the door in China, and after the factories are built, and other related activities, China behind the scenes ruthlessly steers sales to Chinese products.

https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2025/05/05/gm-general-motors-cadillac-luxury-brand.html?amp_js_v=0.1&amp_gsa=1#webview=1
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yet they build them on the same assembly lines, they are chinese products. is SAIC building those Cadillacs, that's a 49% GM joint venture.
KrisZ said:
we’ll, we don’t have latest 2025 figures yet 😉
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No tariffs when built in China, for the Non US market.
 
Jetronic said:
No tariffs when built in China, for the Non US market.
Click to expand...

That’s how the Chinese government will retaliate. They will push their own product with stolen IP. Why do you think any venture in China requires 51% controlling stake from a Chinese corporation, which in turn is controlled by the Chinese government? They can seize the factories if they want to and keep making the product, just slap a different badge.

In essence they can and probably will kick out American owned companies from their market and from their factories In China.
 
KrisZ said:
That’s how the Chinese government will retaliate. They will push their own product with stolen IP. Why do you think any venture in China requires 51% controlling stake from a Chinese corporation, which in turn is controlled by the Chinese government? They can seize the factories if they want to and keep making the product, just slap a different badge.

In essence they can and probably will kick out American owned companies from their market and from their factories.
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Why would they need to make that same product? they make multiple on the same lines already.

The decline in sales is because the Chinese are seeking out more Chinese products, there's a stigma on US brand names, just like there's one on Chinese products in the US
 
Jetronic said:
Why would they need to make that same product? they make multiple on the same lines already.

The decline in sales is because the Chinese are seeking out more Chinese products, there's a stigma on US brand names, just like there's one on Chinese products in the US
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Any stigma against American made products is recent, that’s the power of communist propaganda.

Buick was the best selling luxury brand for a few decades in China. You can’t even compare it to Americans stigma against China made products.
 
KrisZ said:
Any stigma against American made products is recent, that’s the power of communist propaganda.

Buick was the best selling luxury brand for a few decades in China. You can’t even compare it to Americans stigma against China made products.
Click to expand...

started 5-10 years ago, I doubt there's much difference right now between the level of stigma.
 
GON said:
China believes all vehicles be manufactured exclusively in China, not only for domestic consumption, but globally.
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How is that sinister? Every country tries to promote its domestic industries both for local consumption and especially exports.

Also, consumers anywhere choosing between two products of similar price and quality but one is foreign made, will prefer the domestically made one.
 
mk378 said:
How is that sinister? Every country tries to promote its domestic industries.

Also, consumers anywhere choosing between two products of similar price and quality but one is foreign made, will prefer the domestically made one.
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Nothing wrong with that

What is wrong is offshoring and pretending China is a trading partner
 
Are the Cadillac cars that they (try to) sell in China the same models they offer in the US? Often the cars for foreign markets have different names and styles.
 
I was just in China and the sentiment on US brands really has changed. People are actively avoiding US products and retailers due to the whole tariff thing. It used to be that US cars were seen as prestigious, but now Chinese brands are offering way better value and variety on both low and high ends.

I remember 10 years ago, being driven in a Buick GL8 (basically a dressed up Pontiac Montana van) was a status symbol for CEOs. They were everywhere. Now they are rolling in Toyota Alphards.

Also, there's a huge transition to EVs and US models other than Tesla simply aren't competitive against Chinese brands in this space.
 
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Ask GM, Toyota, whomever about sales in China. It ain't just Caddy or Buick.
Porsche numbers dropped 28% in 2024 and they have their big technology center in Shanghai. Here's a recent article...

IMO, businesses need to stop bashing their biggest market and start acting like business professionals. The Chinese products are simply getting better. The Geo-Poli issues compound the issue, but every company wants to take market share.
 
Cadillac has a brand image problem. What is it? What does Cadillac associate with?
Then, when they try something, like ATS and manual, accountants pull the plug before they can truly try to make some inroads. Then add to that GM corporate affairs, and yeah, I wonder how they are here at all.
 
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