Cadillac is one of the oldest American luxury automobile companies. It is owned and manufactured under the umbrella of the General Motors company. Cadillac is an iconic name with a reputation for wealth and luxury. There are songs written and published about this prestigious brand. It has long been associated with the mark of wealth, class, and power.
How the Company Got Started
Cadillac was founded in 1902 by Henry Leland, who named the company after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit. Just six short years later, Cadillac brought the idea of interchangeable parts to the automotive industry and set the stage for the modern mass production of automobiles.
In 1910, Cadillac became the first company to offer a passenger car with a fully enclosed cabin. This was a milestone change from the current vehicles of the time. In 1912 just two years later, the company introduced the Model Thirty, the car with no crank. Groundbreaking technology provided the first production car to include an electronic self-starter, ignition, and lighting. Nearly three years later, Cadillac unveiled to the world a V-type, water-cooled, eight-cylinder (V8) engine. This became the signature of the Cadillac brand. Then came the Roaring 20’s. It was a significant decade for the country and Cadillac.
In 1926, Cadillac began offering customers more than 500 color combinations. Cadillac smashed the famous Henry Ford saying, “ you can have any color you want, as long as it’s black.” That same year, the company hired and introduced designer Harley Earl to design the 1927 LaSalle convertible coupe. It was the first car designed by a designer rather than an engineer. Earl created it to be classy and elegant, with flowing lines, chrome-plate fixtures, and an over-the-top design. This philosophy made the Cadillac brand known for beauty and luxury.
In the middle of the 1930s, during The Great Depression, while most companies and families were struggling, Cadillac created the first V-type 16-cylinder engine for its passenger cars. This engine would be one of the most iconic engines in Cadillac history. Cadillac also released a V12 version to give buyers a mid-version of the already popular V8 and new V16 engines.
The Logo
The luxury brand was named after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the founder of Detroit. Detroit, Michigan, was at the time the car manufacturing capital of the USA. Since the beginning of its history, Cadillac purposed to manufacture only the best in design and quality.
The iconic Cadillac symbol is instantly recognizable and still pays homage to the original brand’s logo from 1906. The famous logo has been redesigned around 30 times during its history.
The most famous Cadillac logo was created in 1963, and it remained untouched for more than 40 years. It had a colorful crest with a silver wreath framing. The crest featured yellow, fuchsia, and blue with white and black details. It made the logo look creative and modern.
In 2009, the logo lost its crown for a more modern look, but the crest remained. Today, the crest is still an icon.
Sales
Cadillac’s sales numbers in the U.S have been through many ups and downs over the last few decades. The early 2000s were good for Cadillac, selling over 200,000 cars a year in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. Things got worse during the financial crisis with 2008 sales of 161,159 (down over 70k units in one year) and 2009 sales of only 109,092 (down 52,000 on 2008s numbers).
On the upside, Cadillac’s global sales went up by 18% in 2021 over the same period of 2020.
This upward swing is still a long way from the companies reputation and standard in the 1980s.
Many Different Models
Cadillac has a unique selection of vehicles available for purchase. Here’s a list of the ones currently available for 2022:
Model | Avg Asking Price | Picture | Description |
Used: $64,162 New: $76,295 |  | “The 2022 Escalade raises its own high-tech standards, pushing the journey forward with innovations that don’t just enhance your driving experience—they revolutionize it.” | |
Used: $43,755 New: $48,995 |  | “Buckle up and drive with confidence. A whole suite of leading-edge safety and driver assistance features comes standard in your XT6: Front Pedestrian Braking, Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, Safety Alert Seat, Rear Seat Reminder, HD Rear Vision Camera, Teen Driver, Vehicle Diagnostics and Rear Park Assist”. | |
Used: $34,130 New: $43,995 |  | “Buckle up and drive with confidence. A whole suite of leading-edge safety and driver assistance features come standard in your XT5” | |
Used: $34,802 New: $35,795 |  | “Discover the irresistible 2022 Cadillac XT4 Small SUV offering advanced driver-assistance technology, premier performance capabilities, & Alexa Built-In.” | |
Used: $32,495 New: $37,295 |  | “From every angle, the CT5 exudes athleticism, sophistication, and confidence.” | |
Used: $29,554 New: $33,695 |  | “With its athletic Rear-Wheel-Drive proportions, the CT4 elevates the Cadillac American luxury brand benchmark by providing responsive powertrains, intuitive, advanced technologies, and agile driving dynamics that bring a smile to your face every time you climb behind the wheel.” | |
Available in 2023 |  | “All new electric vehicles are scheduled to be available in early 2022 as a 2023 model.” |
Most Popular Model
Cadillac manufactures all of its cars and SUVs for the U.S. market in North America. The Cadillac XT5 midsize crossover is the best-selling model for the brand in the United States, while the CT6 large car is its most popular sedan. Cadillac enthusiasts will argue that a model has not been produced since the late 1980s worth the Cadillac name.
The Cadillac Escalade was the most searched car model in 10 states in 2021. The number of Escalade queries has gradually increased since the start of COVID-19 lockdowns. As of a 2018 Cadillac press release, the company had counted nearly 200 references to its SUV in hip-hop recordings. The Cadillac name and its association with wealth and power lead celebrities and millionaires to covet their automobiles still.
Geographic Popularity
Cadillac is popular in China and totaled 230,527 units for the entire 2020 calendar year. The brand has recorded the highest sales figure in the country since it entered it 17 years ago. In the last three months of 2020, its growth among the five brands that the company offers in China has expanded with 80,064 units sold, its best quarterly result to date. The surge in China has been a boost for the company, which has been known to struggle.
Sustainability
GM has stated their vision of the future is clear and simple: a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. That applies to all of its brands, including the Cadillac.
The goal is to understand progress will have to be innovative and often rely upon technology and policy fluctuations not always in their control. Cadillac wants to be transparent with its intentions to maintain accountability.
This mission began a decade ago. Environmentally friendly changes began in its manufacturing facilities. One of the top goals will be to decrease emissions. The ultimate intention is for all of its vehicles to be all-electric models of environmental responsibility. Powered by the Ultium battery platform, Cadillac EVs will have the combined range, power, and flexibility to help reach our goal of an all-electric, zero tailpipe emissions future by 2030.
Safety
When you read a review of the top ten safest vehicles, the GM name will be listed repeatedly. The Cadillac brand will be on the top of the list. The company earns many awards for safety and dependability from many sources every year. GM’s dedication to safety is seen throughout all its brands, including Cadillac. The Safety Alert Seat, Onstar Safety and Security, Teen Driver Settings, and the Safety Assist are examples of their commitment to safety. GM has a goal of manufacturing all-electric vehicles by 2038. An all-electric Cadillac Lyriq is in the production stage for the 2023 model.
Cadillac Today
Cadillac has had some growing pains and some injuries, but they are trying to get up more robust and more in tune with modern needs. With the reputation of luxury and the proven innovation methods, I wouldn’t count them out just yet. An all-electric SUV and a sedan are in the works. The future is an opportunity to be on top again.
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