Cadillac Escalade Sales Dip 15 Percent In Q4 2018

Cadillac Escalade sales decreased in the United States, Canada and in Mexico, while increasing in South Korea in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Cadillac Escalade Sales Results – United States – Q4 2018

In the United States, Cadillac Escalade deliveries totaled 9,573 units in Q4 2018, a decrease of about 15 percent compared to 11,259 units sold in Q4 2017.

During the complete 2018 calendar year, U.S. Escalade sales increased an astounding 60 percent to 36,872 units.

Notably, GM no longer breaks out Escalade sales on a body style basis. As a result, our reporting shows Escalade ESV sales decreasing 100 percent and “regular” Escalade sales increasing 33 percent in Q4 2018 – which is not actually the case. Instead, GM now bundles Escalade ESV sales into the Escalade line, causing a temporary discrepancy in sales figures.

Sales Numbers - Cadillac Escalade - Q4 - United States

Cadillac Escalade Sales Results – Canada – Q4* 2018

In Canada, cumulative Cadillac Escalade sales totaled 491 units in the months of October and November, a decrease of about 10 percent. December sales were not made available. The 491 units were comprised of:

• 317 units of the regular-length Escalade, a decrease of 317 percent compared to 378 units sold in October and November of 2017, and
• 174 units of the Escalade ESV, an increase of 3 percent compared to 169 units sold in October and November of 2017

Sales Numbers - Cadillac Escalade - Q4 2018 - Canada

* GM Canada never released December 2018 sales figures. As such, the figures above contain sales for October and November.

Cadillac Escalade Sales Results – Mexico – Q4 2018

In Mexico, cumulative Cadillac Escalade sales decreased 31.5 percent to 161 units in Q4 2018. The 161 units were comprised of:

• 84 units of the regular-length Escalade, a decrease of 32.8 percent compared to 125 units sold in Q4 2017, and
• 77 units of the Escalade ESV, a decrease of 30 percent compared to 110 units sold in Q4 2017

During the complete 2018 calendar year, Mexico Escalade sales decreased 25 percent to 544 units.

Sales Numbers - Cadillac Escalade - Q4 2018 - Mexico

Cadillac Escalade Sales Results – South Korea – Q4 2018

In South Korea, Cadillac Escalade sales increased 140 percent to 36 units in Q4 2018. Cadillac exclusively markets the regular-length Escalade in South Korea, and does not sell the extended-length Escalade ESV. As such, all sales figures for the market represent regular-length Escalade sales.

During the complete 2018 calendar year, South Korean Escalade sales increased 60 percent to 214 units.

Sales Numbers - Cadillac Escalade - Q4 2018 - South Korea

Competitive Sales Comparison

Despite the best-laid efforts of competitors to dethrone the reigning king of the full-size luxury SUV space, the Escalade remained the best-selling model in its segment by a wide margin during the fourth quarter, outselling the Infiniti QX80, Lincoln Navigator, and Lexus LX. In fact, Escalade accounted for roughly half of the sales volume of its segment during the quarter, with sales almost twice that of the second best-selling competitor – the Infiniti QX80.

Sales Numbers - Full-Size Luxury SUVs - Q4 2018 - USA

Cumulative sales of the full-size luxury SUV segment were flat in Q4 2018 and increased 9 percent during the 2018 calendar year.

Below, we’ve included sales figures for full-size luxury crossovers for reference. Though they differ mechanically from “true” body-on-frame SUVs by having a unibody construction, they are typically cross-shopped and considered as alternatives to the full-size SUVs. Currently, the only luxury automaker with a full-size crossover is Mercedes-Benz with the GLS-Class, though BMW will soon launch the X7 and Audi is rumored to follow suit with a future Q9.

Sales Numbers - Full-Size Luxury SUVs - Q4 2018 - USA

Cadillac is rumored to be working on a rival crossover to the GLS-Class and BMW X7 on the VSS-R platform to be called Cadillac XT7 or Cadillac XT8 that will slot above the three-row Cadillac XT6 “midsize-plus” model.

The GM Authority Take

Despite Escalade outselling its direct rivals, all is not rosy. Cumulative Escalade sales volume slipped during the quarter as Infiniti QX80 sales increased 25 percent and Lincoln Navigator sales increased nearly 43 percent (see Lincoln Navigator sales). Clearly, sales of both rivals are growing at the expense of the Escalade.

This turn of events should not be taken lightly, as the Escalade is vital to the bottom line of Cadillac and General Motors. In fact, Escalade is believed to be GM’s most profitable product line. The same is the case for its direct rivals at Nissan/Infiniti and Ford/Lincoln. In fact, the success of the new Navigator prompted GM’s cross-town rival – the Ford Motor Company – to have increased production capacity of the all-new model.

That said, there’s no need to panic just yet: the Escalade is now the oldest model in its competitive set outside the Lexus LX, a factor that makes it less competitive compared to the all-new Lincoln Navigator or the refreshed Infiniti QX80. Given this turn of events, it is natural for sales to slide slightly. Fortuitously, an all-new Escalade is just around the corner, with the all-new model is expected for the 2020 model year (see more on 2020 Cadillac Escalade). As such, we expect Escalade sales to rebound well past their current levels once the all-new model launches later this year.

About The Numbers

• All percent change figures compared to Cadillac Escalade Q4 2017 sales
• In the United States, there were 77 selling days in Q4 2018 and 76 selling days in Q4 2017
• South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
• Escalade and Escalade ESV model line break-outs contingent on data availability by market