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GM Authority

Future Cadillac CT6 Production Remains Unclear

Of the passenger cars General Motors is preparing to send out to pasture, the Cadillac CT6 perhaps stings the most. The large sedan is a delight to drive, albeit, lacking in a few areas.

Following back and forth answers about the CT6’s future, our sister publication Cadillac Society decided to ask GM’s luxury division about the sedan’s future. Unfortunately, the story hasn’t really changed.

2019 Cadillac CT6 3.0TT Exterior 002 Rear Zoom

“We have CT6 production scheduled at Detroit-Hamtramck that will keep vehicles available through January 2020. We have nothing additional to announce at this time,” Cadillac spokesman Stefan Cross said.

That’s hardly a confirmation the sedan will live on past its current expiration date, though GM brass hasn’t closed the door on the car’s future. Recall, Cadillac President Steve Carlisle commented the company “never said” the CT6 would die as part of GM’s larger North American restructuring. In fact, the company absolutely did prior to Carlisle’s statements. The CT6 was named alongside the Chevrolet Impala, Volt, Cruze, and Buick LaCrosse as one of the passenger cars soon to exit production.

2019 Cadillac CT6-V Reveal - New York - Zoom 002

Of the group, the CT6 and Impala are the only models left in production at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. Production will continue into January 2020—unless something changes.

Carlisle said this past January the automaker was actively looking to relocate production of the CT6 sedan to another facility. He also mentioned the car could be imported from China, though, U.S. production was preferred. It’s a sure-fire bet GM will use CT6 production as leverage in UAW union negotiations that officially kicked off on Monday. In return for U.S. production of the CT6, GM may be able to secure concessions on one of many fronts it aims to curb expenses.

Thus, it’s safe to say the CT6 is in limbo, rather than completely dead.

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Source: Cadillac Society

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. Would be nice if the UAW stepped up for American consumers and bargained back that the CT6 should have a blue collar variant to boost production… I doubt they’d go for a Pontiac GTO Sedan, but how about… I don’t know, a Caprice SS?

    Would also solve that little Commodore problem you have down under. Just saying.

    Reply
    1. CT6, Buick version for big American taste and
      an Alpha Chevelle sedan for US and Commodore replacement
      .
      I’ll go far as a CT4 based compact for a Cruze replacement and a international premium sedan.

      Reply
      1. You actually make a smart point: OZ doesn’t sell Calillac so using one as a Commodore replacement would be smart. The price could be lowered because part of the US cost includes the Cadillac name.
        I’d argue killing CT6 and Cruze were dumb! Cruze wasn’t selling like a Civic but held a niche. Furthermore GM shouldn’t be giving the Japanese the sedan market when an Impala – like offering in midsize, and especially after Ford’s exit, would be a #3 seller.

        Reply
    2. These are all nice ideas but its fantasy, 3 new big sedans when there is barely enough market for one. I could see a Buick Omega based car, a Chevrolet one would be tough sell, seeing as I don’t really think something based on the Omega platform can be sold at Charger prices(Hellcarts aside).

      Even a Buick Omega would have to be something different, it couldn’t just be “A Buick CT6” it would have to be something unique, perhaps a LWB hatch/wagon type car with a slightly raised ground clearance. sort of a mix between a Regal TourX and an Escala.

      If there were any hope of a RWD Chevrolet sedan it would probably have to be based on the Alpha platform. A “Camaro Sedan”, call it Chevelle.

      Reply
  2. I don’t see how China is an option with the tariffs. Adding 25 percent to the CT6’s $60,000. base price puts the car into the $75,000 range which would be problematic from a competitiveness standpoint. Pushback from the public would also be an issue as the Chinese are known as a producer of low-priced goods, not high-end luxury goods. GM could elect to eat the tariff but I’ve never known GM to keep anything around that loses money no matter how much prestige it might add to their brand so it is doubtful they’d take that approach.

    As I understand it, moving production to Lansing Grand River is also problematic due to the mixed materials nature of the car’s body so that may not be an option.

    Detroit-Hamtramck staying open is perhaps the product’s best hope but there is nowhere near the volume needed to keep that plant operating from just the CT6 so that option is also fraught with problems.

    It may well be that even though Mark and Steve would like to see the car stay around, there is just no viable way to do that and production will end in January. GM’s accountants are not going to approve anything that loses money. Personally I think everyone in the company knows the CT6 is toast but GM felt the need to keep that fact private so as not to hamper sales of the car while it is still around and so as not to put a shadow on the Blackwing-powered CT6 V launch.

    Reply
    1. GM’s bean counters are the ones destroying this company long term. That has, unfortunately, been the case for years.

      Reply
      1. I know its crazy, its like GM is the only other company that has a finance dept…..

        Every other car company just spends money with reckless abandon, diamonds on the hubcaps!! Russian reindeer on the visor covers!!!!

        Whoo Hoooo!!!!!

        Reply
        1. Other car companies are not closing US plants and losing market share.

          Reply
          1. Because those companies don’t have any unionized workers, and only build as many plants as needed instead of having to hang onto plants built 50 years ago that when the labour and consumer markets were vastly different.

            Reply
            1. Last time i looked Ford and FCA were unionized and they are not closing plants.

              Reply
              1. No, but the Honda and Toyota plants aren’t unionized, and as it stands, they’re selling cars with higher residuals and with higher customer satisfaction and considerably higher consumer perceived reliability.

                On top of that, they aren’t burdened with legacy plants; they only build the plants they need and don’t struggle to utilize them as the market changes or as engineering allows for multiple vehicles from a single platform.

                Reply
                1. Legacy plants? Burdened by legacy plants? Hanging onto plants from 50 years ago? Didn’t all those ‘burdens’ get foisted off on ‘Old GM’ as part of their bankruptcy ten years ago?

                  If they have new plants that are now a burden, it’s because they continue to be mismanaged and continue to shed market share, eliminate products, and abandon entire markets. They don’t have old legacy costs from the 20th Century to contend with. That’s all gone. They have issues because Mary Barra’s New GM continues to be uncompetitive and fail in the marketplace.

                  Reply
                  1. As my father would say: “The truth hurts.”

                    Reply
                  2. I agree. Machete Mary is nothing but a mouthpiece similar to what you see on your local newscast. Everything she reads sounds like it was written either by a lawyer or PR person. She is following the same playbook that the Roger Smiths, Robert Stempels, et. al. have been following for the last 35 years with the same results. GM now employs less UAW members than Ford and FCA. If Machete Mary keeps this up we can soon call GM JM-for Junior Motors.

                    Reply
        2. I’m pretty sure GM isn’t the only carmaker with a finance department but the other carmakers never seem to be run by theirs.

          Reply
          1. Look at the interior and quality of most if not all FCA cars and then try to write that again with a straight face……

            Reply
            1. I don’t know if I am following you correctly, but FCA’s interiors blow GM’s out of the water across the board.

              Reply
  3. Seems pretty simple to me. D-Ham will be shuttered and the CT6 will be dropped. If the Chinese tariff is dropped/reduced at some point, they will import a few thousand a year from “over there”.

    Reply
    1. Chances are DHAM will remain open. Question is will the CT6 be built with a new product considering the product will likely be a CUV or truck.

      Reply
      1. They should also keep the Impala which is a better car than the Malibu anyway. Tooling is paid for and the plant is fairly modern. GM never really tried to market either CT6 or Impala. GM may not make as much off them as trucks or cuv’s, but there is a market for them!

        Reply
  4. They should have based an SUV on that chassis. Or at least have one in the works.

    Moving production to China is going to kill the car in the US. It is a shame because it outsells most of its competitors, but GM’s leadership sucks now.

    Reply
    1. “GM” and “leadership” is an oxymoron.

      Reply
  5. And they wonder why Cadillac is losing sales. Things like this may not be the only reason but it has to be a big part. Who wants to put that kind of money on a car that may not be around much longer?

    Reply
  6. Agree with the comments above.

    GM seems so lost and confused, I bet they have to hold each other’s hands while crossing the street.
    Even then, I’m sure THEY don’t know where they are going.

    Can you imagine your favorite restaurant constantly changing, not only their menu, but renaming the
    same dish every month?

    Why all the confusion?

    Reply
  7. I’m from Europe and i want to say CT6 is beautiful vehicle. If GM kills this model it will be very bad decision.

    Reply
    1. Yes , Martin. I concur.

      See Willam’s comment below, coming from an actual owner!

      Reply
  8. I drive one. I test drove more cars than I can count before making my decision. I just returned from a week that produced more than 1,100 miles of relaxed comfort and quiet confidence on the road. This is a vastly under-appreciated vehicle that returned 28.1 MPG over that time with the 3.6 liter AWD configuration. If Cadilkac bows out of the full size luxury market it will be the beginning of the end for the brand.

    Reply
    1. Or more correctly… the end of the beginning.

      Reply
    2. I agree. We took the Ct6 (2019 prem lux) and drove to Myrtle Beach for vacation. It’s a great, wonderful relaxing ride. Absolute comfort. It’s smooth, quiet and fast. Love it!

      Reply
  9. I think this one of the best looking cars ever seen especially after seeing it on Ray Donavon! Well I priced one out here in Canada what I would like over $100.000 plus %13 tax and that’s not a V! I paid just shy of hundred for my 2019 Vette G S. My American friends you do not know how good you have in car prices. So for a daley driver I am going to order a 2020 Buick Regal sport back G S which list over yes Fifty thousand! And G M can stick their suv You know where!

    Reply
  10. I don’t understand why GM wants to end production of the Cadillac CT6.
    It is a good car.
    The design language is beautiful and exceptional.
    GM should concentrate more on content, tech, innovation and long term reliability for this car.
    I think GM is also in a rush to get many models as possible on the road. I will suggest they take a cue from the Japanese and learn. Don’t rush things. The CT6 is really a great car. See how improvements can be made with the car bit by bit over time. Don’t be driven by immediate profit. Think long term instead. Hire the most competent hands to do the job. Learn from the competition but also think of what to offer that can put the product shoulder and head above the competition while maintaining competitive pricing.
    I sincerely want to see a Cadillac CT6 that will comfortably compete with the Mercedes Benz S Class, BMW 7 Series and the Audi A8.
    Finally, instead of calling the car the CT6, why not just call it the El Miraj or Cielo… This in my hears are name that sound more upscale than the CT6.

    Reply
  11. I hope they do save it, its a great car and damn good looking with the 2019 update, if they do though they better bring back some options, most importantly the 3.0tt because the lineup for 2020 means the car is essentially dead anyway

    Reply
  12. Cadillac has lost its identity that’s the number one problem. When a person says LS or RX you know that’s Lexus, When you say I’m looking at a 7 series of 4 series of 3 series you know that’s a BMW, i’m looking at it as a class C class a E class or an S class that’s a Mercedes. But what I think of Cadillac their CTS, ATS, XLR before it was DTS, STS, ETC, Now CT6, XT5, CT5. The only Cadillac that has keep any type of identity for the last 20 years has been the Escalade. People don’t think of a product line that can’t stay relevant, Cadillac needs to figure out who they are get in the lane and stay there it’s not a quality problem you build nice cars you just need to stay relevant to the public like your competitors .

    Reply
  13. Completely true.

    When the dopes in charge of Cadillac change the message every 3 months, how the F do they get away with that?

    Get the right people in charge with balls as big as grapefruits, and look to the past to create the future.

    I swear, Cadillac is run by ex-Walmart managers. And that is being generous.

    Reply

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