Inventory of GM’s profitable Cadillac Escalade luxury SUV was running at a 30 days supply through September 2023 according to the latest data, half of the 60 days supply usually considered optimal.
The Cadillac Escalade isn’t the only GM nameplate with around a month’s worth of inventory left on dealer lots according to Cox Automotive research, with popular sport utility vehicles and mid-size pickups from several brands also in short supply.
Sales of the Cadillac Escalade have been robust in 2023, dominating the market segment as deliveries of the vehicle reached 11,555 units in Q2 2023. These figures represent a 25.3 percent year-over-year increase for the quarter, contributing to 5.6 percent growth for the year’s first half overall. Regular-length Escalade units sold best, but the extended-length Cadillac ESV sales also increased more than 12 percent.
While strong sales help explain the low days supply of new Cadillac Escalade units on dealership lots, some other GM nameplates may start seeing their supply squeezed by the ongoing UAW strikes, too. A strategic strike at the GM Wentzville plant in Missouri caused Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon inventory to drop to 29 days supply in September, while earlier this week, UAW members went on strike at the GM Arlington plant in Texas where the Escalade is built.
Other GM models also had limited inventory remaining, with the popular Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban SUVs down to 30 days supply, equal with the Escalade. The all-new 2024 Chevrolet Trax was running at 33 days supply at the start of October thanks to its affordable price and eager reception by American consumers. Produced at the GM Changwon plant in South Korea, its supply is unaffected by the UAW strikes.
GM overall has 60 days supply averaged out across all four of its brands. Popular Chevy and Cadillac models tend to be well below this figure, while some Buick models like the Buick Enclave have 141 days supply and Buick overall is running at 82 days supply. Meanwhile, the Cadillac brand is running at 46 days supply.
GM is the most vulnerable of the Big Three automakers to the strike because of its inventory levels, and Cadillac, along with the Cadillac Escalade, is its most vulnerable brand. Meanwhile, cross-town rival Stellantis has over 100 days supply for its four most popular brands – ranging from 103 days for Jeep to 142 days for Dodge – and Ford has 88 days supply for its core Ford brand.
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