When we sampled the 2014 Cadillac ELR, we knew that it was many things. But a Tesla rival — despite the collective opinion of auto journalists — is not one of them. And GM global product head Mark Reuss agrees, according to a Detroit News report.
“People like to say the ELR is, but it’s really not,” said Reuss, who was a guest speaker at the WWJ Newsradio 950 annual Dream Cruise Business Breakfast. “It’s a different car, it’s a different price point. It’s way-different technology.”
Some could interpret Reuss’ words as being deflective from the ELR’s lack of sales, which are less than 600 units before the year. But that may stem from criticism that the vehicle is overpriced, rather than it being a Tesla rival. But just where is GM’s expected answer to the American EV automaker? We’ll have to wait and see.
Comments
Show me where GM or Cadillac ever stated that this car was targeted directly at the S model Tesla? Where?
You will not find it because no approved official ever stated it. That is just like the XTS by many was hit for being a poor flagship model for Cadillac. But where did anyone from Cadillac ever claim it to be the flagship? No one did.
I think you will find that the ELR was just a throw together model to display technology as it used Volt technology and the ELR show car styling that both were already done. GM is working on a car that will challenge the S model but with some time need to complete one the ELR was just a stop gap as the XTS was. As I have said of the XTS it is the path not the destination.
So many people think that GM could just answer the S model this fast they were mistaken. They really need to learn how and what it takes to make a move like this with a car properly done. It takes 5 years on a normal and could take longer for one like this. I do believe that since GM already has advanced electric motors and drive line parts it will give them a heads up on a time line but still we are looking n less than 5 years from when it was started and approved.
On the counter GM can not come out and say much about these models till they are ready as the longer they remain silent the better advantage they keep on the competition.
Why did G.M launch E.L.R after the Volt/Ampera, was it political pressure caused by the bailout?. It just seems natural that this technology and it’s price point would have been accepted far more readily as a Cadillac first then cascaded down to Chevrolet/Opel Vauxhall, there would have been far less friction over the E.L.R pricing if it was first to market and in launching Volt first, G.M unintentionally created a perceived value for the technology.
The Volt was conceived as a Chevy and built as a Chevy as at the time no one in the industry could even imagine anyone -paying $75K-105K for an electric or hybrid car.
Tesla took a chance and with good marketing has made it exciting for many that are willing to pay more.
GM on the other hand is coming out of a bail out and had the development cost of the Volt leveraged out over only two cars. GM Also had a ELR show car that they could merge with the same driveline to leverage the cost out more and fill a gap till they can get what they really want with the post bail out money.
At this time all MFG are scrambling for something like this and they all would like to get it out as soon as they can but it takes time if you want to get it right.
This is why the ELR did not have any numbers put on it as it I more or less just add on sales and image maker than anything. GM would like to see more sales but again this cars pricing is back to the regulation GM has that they have to make a specified percent of profit on each model that many are fighting to change at Cadillac till they get the ball rolling.
Building better cars cost more and a growing force in GM knows they should not charge as much as they are and are fighting to lower the profits on each car sold to get more people into these cars to learn they are as good as they are. Then you get them on the second or third model once you hook them.
In other news, GM wants to buy Tesla… 😉
I knew the product was a failure the second I saw that the pricing was more than double what a Chevy Volt costs. GM is shooting themselves in the foot with their outlandish pricing lately and they will pay dearly for it. Look at all the ATS and CTS vehicles just sitting on dealer lots. They have so many that they have to idle the plant so that supply and demand could be adjusted. GM is WAY too confident with their pricing. If they were smart, they would slowly raise prices over the years, but not throw a huge price tag on every new car. Whoever set the new pricing should be fired!