2017 Cadillac XT5 Landing In China On April 12
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The 2017 Cadillac XT5 is nearly ready to replace the aged Cadillac SRX, and hopefully do good things for the brand’s growth in the crossover segment. As it prepares to enter the North American market, the brand has also announced an official launch date for China.
The 2017 Cadillac XT5 will arrive in China on April 12, according to the brand, which will follow up the launch of the 2016 Cadillac CT6.
Unlike the North American Cadillac XT5, the 2017 Cadillac XT5 in China will arrive exclusively with a 2.0-liter LTG turbocharged four-cylinder, foregoing the 3.6-liter LGX V6 option. Cadillac is rumored to be mulling over a U.S. introduction for the 2.0-liter turbo later in the vehicle’s lifecycle.
Power is still delivered through an electronic precision shift unit, eight-speed automatic transmission, and is sent through front-wheel or all-wheel drive.
Following the introduction of the XT5, Cadillac will execute a hiatus of new product, as the brand continues to develop its crossover portfolio.
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So… China gets the XT5 before we even get the CT6. No dealers I have spoken to are going to get a CT6 before mid-April.
I know China is important to Cadillac, but come on, throw your home country some scraps here.
It’s a matter of a month difference in launch cadence for a vehicle that will be around a good part of a decade. Doesn’t really matter much, if you ask me.
As for the reason: production lines were set up in China prior to the US. This is most likely because the Chinese plant that makes the two is brand new and therefore easier to set up than re-tooling Spring Hill and Dham for the XT5 and CT6, respectively.
I agree that the launch cadence is more a scheduling thing than a preference of markets.
Despite the greater growth rate for the Chinese market the US will remain the highest volume market for many years to come.
Silent is correct on this. It’s not a preference, it’s reality. GM was racing to make this car on both continents, and China came out first due to the plant there being a greenfield initiative.
As for China, it’s important from a sales volume standpoint, but not so much from a profit standpoint… at least when compared to North America. Take a look at the disparity in profit between the two regions:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2015/08/north-america-remains-general-motors-most-lucrative-operating-segment-by-a-very-long-shot/
I was planning to buy an XT5 to replace my SRX, but was told I cannot flat tow behind my motorhome as a do my SRX. Cadillac just lost the RV community!!!
I take it your SRX is the 1st generation?
I understand it might be easier to start producing a new vehicle from a new facility , but lately it seems that most decisions are based on ” how well it will do in China ” . And then we come up second . Doesn’t seem to matter what division either, same for Buick and Cadillac . The CT6 was designed with China in mind and even the Buick concept,
which may or not get the green light , Buick is wondering if it would sell in China .
In fairness this thinking is even the same for Ford and others but it’s still a hard pill to swallow .
What examples do you have that Cadillac is being to China focused?
With the sales volume in China today and the potential for growth there still, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that China is being integrated into GM’s GLOBAL business operations. After all, GM is a global company, no?
The Chinese automotive market is roughly the size as that of the United States. Its consumers have similar and still growing buying power and spending habits. At this point, it just can not be ignored. The only thing that has changed is that vehicles are being launched simultaneously now on three key continents/markets — North America, China and Europe. Prior to this, the focus was mostly on America and Europe. So, there isn’t a specific “focus” on China at GM… and there isn’t any favoritism either. It’s simply business — being able to sell as many vehicles as possible that GM spends billions of dollars and man hours developing each and every year — to realize as much of a return on investment as possible.
All of the above above impacts and applies to Cadillac even more so than most other GM brands and automakers. This is because Cadillac is significantly lagging the competition in global sales volume. It is losing badly in the U.S. to BMW, Mercedes, and Audi… it is (for all intents and purposes) non-existent in Europe, and it does not even compete in Australia, South America or Africa (something the Germans do quite well, by the way).
All this makes Cadillac a U.S.-dependent business/subsidiary. So when an opportunity comes along to double Cadillac sales by selling in China, you bet Caddy/GM will be all over it. And that is what we are seeing here.
The same rings true for Buick, with the exception of the Opel alignment in Europe.
Hey Gene–upgrade to a 2016 SRX–with a 6 year power-train warranty you should be good for a while