After one full month on the market, Cadillac’s all-new compact luxury performance sedan — the ATS — sold 1,266 units. And while that’s not an impressive number in and of itself, the fact that 70 percent of those who traded in vehicles to buy the ATS were new to the Cadillac brand is rather impactful.
In addition, Cadillac retail sales in California — a state that’s synonymous with setting the trend for products consumed all over the nation — rose 70 percent in October.
“We are building momentum with our new sedan models and it’s being led by increased demand in the leading regional markets in the U.S.,” said Chase Hawkins, vice president of Cadillac U.S. sales. “We’re taking a very long-term approach, but the initial feedback is very strong as ATS creates an entryway into the Cadillac brand for new luxury consumers.”
Cadillac’s October retail sales increased 15 percent compared to October of 2011, while total sales increased 11 percent year-over-year. Finally, October was also Cadillac’s fifth consecutive month of retail sales gains — momentum that is spearheaded by the ATS and XTS.
The GM Authority Take
The fact that the ATS is attracting conquest buyers is excellent news. As more car buyers learn about the New Cadillac and its new compact performer, we expect the unit sales to increase from October’s 1,266. Let’s see where we are this time next year; by that time, the all-new CTS would have already launched, as well. Now, let’s hope Caddy has some effective retention programs in place to keep all of the new customers in the family.
Comments
Great design seems to solve a lot of problems! Cadillac has a winner here. Too bad the XTS has such odd proportions- oh my gawd, they need to put a vinyl top on that and bury it. They need to drop that ridiculous “yo Vinny” truck too.
With the ATS, all the cool CTS’s and the SRX, Cadillac has a mighty strong line up- Cadillac style! And with Lincoln DEAD, they will do pretty well.
Micahel…..yes, CADILLAC style. ATS does have that in spades. Just love the grill and the rear built-in spoiler. Sharp
Great news. Quality products from a turned around company don’t sell big right away but this is a good start.
Ultimately quality wins, but it takes time. A big concern of mine is the dealerships. Salesmen I’ve talked to seem to have the same level of enthusiasm toward the new ATS as BMW owners.
Well, that is good news for sure. I would agree it is important to have quality service and sales staff…I am sure it varies everywhere. In the end, it is the quality and appeal of the car that should sell it…just getting someone in to drive and enjoy is the key, I guess…………There have been lots of ads on TV for this car which is helping and print ads too 🙂
How many of that 70% owned other GM brands?
Sat in a showroom demo ATS last night. There really is no room in the back.
Nevertheless, if I hear one more fool open their mouth and say “The ATS is making Cadillac look too German”, I’ll be very disapointed. This car is evey bit as important as the CTS was when it was new. Both the ATS and the first gen CTS repersented quantum shifts in how the world see’s Cadillac and how Cadillac presented itself unto us all.
None of those cars have done Cadillac an ounce of harm except shake off the image of being old.
True dat! The front shape of the ATS reminds me of the 68 Eldorado- that’s not German. It has fins on it too and they don’t look stupid- the Germans never had fins, except when the Mercedes 200SE copied the Rambler in the early ’60s.
Grawdaddy…Yes, rear seems somewhat small…so many newer cars are this way. I guess it depends on how often it will be and used. I felt the rest was fine. I like the styling…Cadillac look and feel. I don’t think it looks to Euro personally.
Don’t get me wrong, the ATS is a fine car. Its weakest feature (at least from a showroom sit in) are the rear seats. Reviews also say the 2.5 is crap.
Styling, I’d say it’s a softening of the Art and Science theme, but it’s far from being watered down.
When I mentioned it being “Euro” I was thinking of the idiots that have told me time and time again that Cadillac is “all about big cushiony cars” and that by making cars that used the old BMW E46 as a template was somehow wrong.
When I think of those idiots, I think of them being people that are drooling over the glass in a Lincoln showroom and bemoaning the loss of the Panther cars. Then I’m reminded of the ATS I sat in, smile and think “I’ve never been as wrong as I am now”. 😉
I even saw a old mid-80’s Fleetwood Brougham today too and I thought “While it wouldn’t work today with its skirt and boomerang, OF THE TIME that car looked the part”. That’s what I think the ATS should be as well; look the part today, not look the part from 20 years ago.
The ATS is an excellent statement to Europe that GM will not go quietly into the night.
The coupe and drop top will be dynamite.
Rich…yeah, coupe would be so sharp
I saw new ATS online for $29900..base 2.5….$199 lease with $4k down…..interesting to see how the prices vary so much; hope sales pick up for ATS 🙂