General Motors has decided to delay the reveal event for the Cadillac Lyriq electric crossover due to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19.
The automaker announced just last week that it would reveal the Cadillac Lyriq during a special debut event on April 2nd. Now, with the spread of the coronavirus ongoing and medical experts advising against hosting gatherings with large amounts of people, the automaker has decided to postpone the event indefinitely. It has not decided on a make-up date, though the decision will likely depend on how the coronavirus situation develops in the United States.
Cadillac communications director Michael T. Albano said the automaker is currently evaluating potential future plans and will provide media with an update soon.
“Our top priority is the safety of our media guests and employees,” Albano said. “We have been working with GM Medical and Security to monitor the situation closely and have been following recommendations for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization.”
The automaker is looking at potentially making the debut an online-only affair and hosting a live stream instead of an actual event. While this means the media won’t be able to take live photos and get up-close-and-personal with the Cadillac Lyriq, it could prevent it from having to wait to debut the vehicle.
GM is not alone in having to cancel an event due to coronavirus. The Geneva International Motor Show was canceled due to the ongoing epidemic, while other major events like the 2020 Olympics could also be in jeopardy.
The Cadillac Lyriq will be the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle when it goes on sale in 2022. The crossover will ride on the automaker’s BEV3 electric vehicle platform and will use its proprietary Ultium battery technology. GM is expected to show a concept version of the crossover this year before the production model is unveiled at a later date.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Lyriq news, Cadillac news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
If it was the concept they’re going to show , then I can wait . Although Cadillac does awesome ones , especially in the last few years .
Glad they are listening to the CDC and the WHO and not what is coming out of the White House .
Maybe just this one time the world can actually get together and solve this virus that is going to get worse before it gets better .
To bad there is nothing but fake news coming from our Federal Government .
I don’t know… Seems like a great chance to reset demographics. Cadillac could honestly advise those over 50 to stay away from the reveal for their own safety. Only those under 50 admitted.
Keep watching CNN moron… More folks have died this year from the flu than C-18. There is no pandemic except on the parts of ideologues… EVERYTHING coming out of the WH is in the best interests of the public. The media is hyping this garbage to boost Blow Hard / Quid Pro Joe – you know the guy that tells Auto workers, with a pointy finger to the chest, that they’re full of $!&*
This is very dramatiq
I don’t see why they don’t hold both the Hummer and Caddy debut together and do it within two weeks. You’d still get enough media to show up and you’d get the events out of the way.
Because Hummer is GMC… and this is Cadillac. Two brands, two different messages. You don’t see Volkswagen and Porsche holding joint events for vehicle announcements, despite both having the same parent.
Who said any of this is ideal or prototypical. Both are spearheading GMs EV lineup.
Sooooooo GM can’t just stream it online?
I think less about keeping people from getting sick and more due to the fact that the markets are in turmoil and we’re probably heading into a recession as a result. Unveiling new product right now is a bad look. I can see other companies following suit.
Damn, I can live with the Lyriq being pushed back…but not the Hummer. If they don’t at LEAST livestream that event, I’m going to be so disappointed.
GM will do all they can to sell these. I heard from a Manager at the company that if BEV 3 Fails, GM will go bankrupt again. So they will put their best foot forward with these cars.