GM celebrated the start of production for all-electric 2023 Cadillac Lyriq luxury crossover last March, but since then, just 122 units were delivered for the entire 2022 calendar year. Now, we’re taking a closer look at why Cadillac Lyriq deliveries are seemingly taking so long.
To begin, let’s summarize the situation as it stands. The Cadillac Lyriq is assembled at the GM Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, which underwent a $2 billion renovation to outfit the facility for EV production. The facility has a production of capacity of just under 200,000 units annually, which includes all models built there, including ICE-based vehicles like the Cadillac XT5, Cadillac XT6, and GMC Acadia.
In total, 8,195 units of the Cadillac Lyriq were produced last year, with the highest monthly production total set in November at 2,477 units. Nevertheless, just 122 units were delivered during the entire 2022 calendar year, 20 of which were part of the GM’s new Cadillac Lyriq Ambassador Program, which offers certain customers a $5,500 vehicle discount in exchange for giving GM permission to track how the customers used their vehicle as part of an early adopters study.
So then, the question is this – why is it taking so long for new units of the Cadillac Lyriq to be delivered?
As it turns out, one of the big reasons is timing. Typically, a vehicle takes between 30 and 100 days to reach a dealer, and considering the vast majority of Cadillac Lyriq units were built last September and later, it’s possible that many units are still in this process.
However, there’s another factor to consider here as well, namely – the slow rollout is actually intentional. As GM Authority has covered previously, the Cadillac Lyriq has faced a few teething issues, with GM releasing a fix for the Lyriq’s vehicle software management update earlier this year, a fix for a cracking liftgate panel in October, and a recall for display screen issues last September. At the end of the day, the more gradual rollout is intended to make sure that when customers do get their vehicle, it’s relatively problem-free.
Looking ahead, more new units of the Cadillac Lyriq are expected to hit dealerships in the next few months. As a reminder, the Lyriq rides on the GM BEV3 platform and features GM Ultium batteries and GM Ultium drive motors.
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Comments
I’d rather GM takes longer to make the car than to release a broken one, but that still doesn’t bode well for consumer confidence. It makes me wonder if other Ultium EVs will require the same slow start-up before they can be mass-produced. I hope this is not the case because while that works on a low volume product like the Lyriq, it won’t work on the Equinox EV of which at least 8,000-10,000/month are expected.
I was one of the very first to put in a reservation 3 years ago and to confirm an order 18 months ago for a pretty standard Luxury 2 model.
Still no ETA from my dealer – Dublin Cadillac in CA.
They say it has not even been “picked up by Cadillac for manufacture”! Absolutely appalling! Who else has experienced this?
I too have been waiting just as long as you have. I too had to re-order from the 2023 Lyriq to the 2024 Lyriq, choosing the same model as you. I have confirmed that I’m indeed intitled to the incentive they offered for switching, since I was in the “Open Work Bench” system, but I still haven’t heard a peep from anyone.
I come now to the conclusion that it’s not GM (the Manufacture) that’s holding my order up, I believe it’s our Dealerships. From what I’ve been reading, the Dealerships are giving sporadic allocations from GM for the Lyriq (as to which model Lyriq is being set up on their assembly line). Based on their existing orders (Dealership), It’s them that choose which orders are filled, (if any of their clients’ existing orders matches GMs allocation). They also have to meet GM’s mandate to be able to service the car in the event it needs servicing or fixing with a GM certified in house Mechanic, as well as a newly design lift, plus charging capabilities. To me, none of this is my problem! It’s their problem! They should have never marketed this car for production until all components were in placed! However, I will continue to wait (as you), only because I’ve waiting this long, but I will never pre order again!
I also have been waiting 19 months. My car was built in October when i use the GM chat device, they tell me the car is built and I have a VIN # but the estimated delivery date is “Delayed” and I should talk to the dealer. the dealer say’s they don’t know. I also will continue to wait because I have waited this long.
Same here, à made my réservation that make 2 years and pay my for the réservation, but nothing !!!
8195 Lyriq’s built, 122 delivered, where are the 8073 units?
In a big parking lot…..probably where a GM auto plant used to stand….
The misalignment of the body panels in the last picture is shocking to see.
Same limbo that GM truck buyers have been living in ’22 and continue to endure.
Yes, couldn’t believe that they published that!!!
Why is that shocking? That’s how they build cars in the US for as long as I have been a car buyer (50 years).
I don’t have a problem with the explaination in this article “Why Your Cadillac Lyriq Is Taking So Long To Arrive”. What I do have a problem with is the silence of GM over the many months/year of not informing it’s Customers (those that ordered and where promised a delivery period when ordered) of the many roadblocks they were facing. What made matters worse, GM never trickled down this infomation (if any at all) to those Dealerships that placed Customer’s orders with them. The excuses we all were given over the many months now seem to be all made up if indeed this is the real reasons for the hold up mentioned in this article. Me? I always found being honest and truthful goes a long way when dealing with Consumers, after all, we do have other choices or options once our confidence in a product is deminished over time.
I get a kick out of reading over and over on the forums what a great car for only $60k and worth the wait. I’d like to see one that goes out the door for under $70k or far more. 2wd no good in the rust belt.
I’m relieved that it has taken so long for my Lyriq to be delivered. It has given me time to see a pre-production model IRL and see first had the shortcomings of this car.
It has also given me time to realize that even though I am smack dab in the middle of Cadillac’s target market, the dealer network is what is screwing everything up for the possibility of Cadillac connecting with the consumer and being successful. I just purchased a 2022 Escalade Sport Platinum, and the dealer experience has been appalling. Lies upon lies upon lies told by the management and sales representative on the status of my order, markup, deposit refund eligibility, finance rates, etc. When I bought my Genesis G80, I expected some bumps buying a high-end luxury vehicle from a Hyundai dealer, but my experience (pre and post sale) with Hyundai was exceedingly positive.
It might be too late for Cadillac at this point to realign, but it isn’t due to GM corporate. The greedy f-ing dealers are the real problem.
Totally agree J Carr. In the words of Tigger in a previous article post,
GM (and others) are no longer an automaker: they “are woke political/social organizations that happen to build autos”.
In short, their priorities are in disarray.
Our local Cadillac dealer is really first-rate. They won’t even sell above MSRP on a vehicle that is sold out with a waiting line! However, having worked for an auto and RV dealer, I know some of their practices are pretty shady, bordering on illegal or unethical. Some of this includes “pulling the statement black” when they had a month that lost money, then giving it to their bank to support the flooring line. No doubt they were living under a rock when Enron and Worldcom happened.
I put a reservation in for an AWD Lyriq back in November. Got a call from the dealer today, saying he thought I had put a reservation in for a RWD. Really? He couldn’t look up the info? He then tells me that they just got a RWD model in that a customer changed their mind about and thought I might be interested. I corrected him and said no, I had specified an AWD. Out of curiosity, I looked on the dealer site. They have 8 RWD Lyriqs! WTF? Personally, I can’t understand why you wouldn’t want AWD. I guess a lot of other people must feel the same way. That, or there’s a problem with the AWD model.
The price difference between the RWD and AWD is only $2000 on the 2023. However, in 2024 the AWD is much more expensive than the RWD. I know that for me, the extra $2000 for an AWD was a no-brainer.
What was the name of this Cadillac dealer?
You still bought it though right?
McCurley in Pasco, WA The car is on order.
Thanks, though the question was for the original poster who had a bad time trying to buy an Escalade…..but still bought it nonetheless….
A vehicle might typically take 30 to 100 days to reach a dealer from the time it’s ordered. It should ship right away once completed, especially on a sold order, which they all are. I’ve always been told 1 to 3 months until delivery if you are ordering a car. I’ve special ordered two cars (from GM), and they both arrived within 30 days of placing the order, so I’m not completely buying the first part of the explanation. We’re not talking about Lucid or some other startup, GM should have logistics in order especially at a plant used to shipping out several other models. I also get that things are different in the pandemic era, and people have been waiting months for Camaros or HD trucks, but that is different. GM isn’t building those models or configurations, but these are already built units.
The second part is more likely what is going on here, but shame on GM for not making that more transparent and keeping customers (and dealers?) updated on the process, and when they might be shipping units out. This is a very important rollout for GM. If things go wrong, it could doom or at least leave a major black eye on Cadillac and Ultium platform vehicles, but they’re being so overly cautious that the slow trickle is making them look bad anyway. They can’t make money or grab market share if they aren’t delivering vehicles. I guess we’ll see what this looks like in a couple more months when the first quarter data is released, but if the flood gates haven’t opened on deliveries by then, that’s a huge problem.
Worst case, we can still recover the $100 deposit
Why has GM spent $$$$$MILLIONS on ads over the last 6 months advertizing an automobile that top management knew damn well they could not deliver. This ads money could have went to other automobiles that could have used the boost. This is very poor top managements decision making.
What’s the excuse for the Escalade?
Not a Lyriq, but I ordered a Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing on Sept 1, 2021, no carbon fiber options. It was built on Feb 17, 2022, and delivered on July 20, 2022; 5 months from build to delivery and not ONE WORD from Cadillac as to why this took so long. There was much talk on a forum I followed about cars built with missing parts. Transportation availability was speculated as well. But again, no information from Cadillac. GM can certainly do a better job here.
Agreed!
Totally unacceptable!!!
Last week I was told that my Lyriq was being built and that I should receive the car in February. The last time I was told a similar story was back in August. “Your car should Arrive before the end of 2022”. Oops, no car and now we are in in 2023. I have concluded that Cadillac is having some serious problems with the car, and that is the real reason for the delays. I’m very concerned about the reliability of the completed product and so should everyone else. I’m sorry to say that I will be buying a Tesla if my car isn’t delivered in February. I’m done. I’m not interested in being Cadillacs guinea pig.
By the way I recently saw a real live Lyriq at my dealer. The fit and finish was not impressive.
I just picked up my Lyriq. I drove it about 240 miles. I’M SELLING IT. IT’S FOR SALE, if anyone is interested. IT’S BLACK WITH 22 INCH WHEELS.
If anyone is interested email me.
ordered a Lyric May 2022, not a single email on status from GM, big flop, delivery scheduled for last December, not even built, never buy a Cadillac again.
I was told by my dealer that Cadillac is planning on delivering only 1500 Lyriq units for the entire 2023 year.
I ordered a Tesla a moth ago and I’m scheduled to pick it up next week. Now that’s service….good bye Lyriq. See you in a couple of years….maybe.
Biggest problem with GM is they can not make more than a few thousand EV vehicles a quarter. There is huge demands and huge deposits, so few deliveries. Lyric is a great example, GM only delivered 122. Hummers hate or love them have huge order backlog and they delivered 854 in 2022. Those numbers are not just embarrassing, they are pathetic.
GM is a company that is old and seasoned. I have owned nothing but GM’s for decades. Now I am looking at a Tesla because I don’t see GM EVER delivering EV’s at volume. I have no faith in GM delivering EV’s. GM should be able to knock these out. Parts shortage is over so that’s no excuse.
I’m just done I ordered my 2023 lyric in April 2022. I test drove the model in December 2022 with the anticipation. I am number 17 in line at Findlay Cadillac Las Vegas. After hearing nothing from the dealership I’ll reach out to the the salesman to discover or be given an excuse that the dealer hasn’t produced enough vehicles yet and I should either wait for delivery projections of September 2023, or build a new order for the 2024 version. WTF!! So you request my money and then tell me you’re not planning to give me vehicle until 1.5 yrs later.
Where could I go to see a new lyriq in upstate New York. I’m within driving distance from Ithaca, Vestal, Painted Post, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Binghamton?
The article could have been titled “Making cars is hard.” . This is where all the mature auto maker experience is supposed to minimize these issues. GM seems more like a startup than one of the big three that can make cars at scale. This makes all their new models coming in 2024 suspect. Will all of them have problems rolling out? Will the 2024 models come out in 2025? Seems like GM like Ford is having a problems no different than Rivian. At least all the people who have received a Rivian are happy with the product and it seems more mature than any GM EV. Well if you have an order for one of these I figure you won’t get squat until 2025 at the pace GM is slow walking everything.
I placed my order for the lyriq in 09-2021 – they get used ones in – they can not get any new ones in and the used ones are $10,000 to $15,000 more . Why are people getting rid of them so soon?
I am ready to by a BMW or a Tesla