Cadillac has the highest inventory of the four core General Motors brands in October 2024, with 110 days supply of new vehicles on dealer lots – though it is down slightly from the 113 days supply the brand registered in August .
Per research by Cox Automotive, Cadillac inventory is far above the 85 days supply that is average across the American auto sector as a whole in October, which is in turn almost 50-percent higher than the optimal 60 days supply.
Cadillac belongs to the family of brands that consists of “high-priced luxury vehicles” and that, according to Cox findings, “have been incentivized the heaviest of late and also have the highest days’ supply.” Looking back a year, Cadillac’s situation was drastically different, when the brand had only 48 days supply on the typical dealer lot, and the popular Cadillac Escalade SUV had just 20 days supply available.
Though much higher than last year, the Escalade is still one of the models with the lowest days supply on offer, along with the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq. The model with the highest inventory backlog at dealerships is the Cadillac CT4 sedan, with the compact Cadillac XT4 crossover in second place.
High-end automotive brands have the highest incentives along with the biggest inventories in terms of days supply in October 2024. While the average incentive is 7.7 percent – itself a near-doubling from the 2023 level of 4.7 percent – luxury brands are offering 10-percent incentives as a percentage of average transaction price or ATP.
Cox notes that “more incentives and discounts are expected to spur on rising consumer demand and deliver continued positive momentum in retail showrooms as inventory levels continue to creep higher,” with sales already 13 percent higher than in October of last year. Sales, inventory, and incentives are all rising at the end of 2024, albeit at different rates, with inventory increasing fastest of all.
Available new vehicles surpassed 3 million units in October despite the countervailing force of rising sales, a level not seen for two years. However, sales are also likely to remain fairly high, driven by consumer sentiment Cox says “has improved for five straight months and is at the highest level in three and a half years.”
Comments
I believe GM made a statement going into Q4 stating they will build up inventories for the 2 week holiday shutdown. The issue is not the current build up, but rather if and when they will go back down after the holidays.
This appears to be a standard for most US production facilities, including transplants like toyota. I imagine most of the them lower to more reasonable levels by January.
Maybe they should put engines in them they think moped motors are what people are looking for vega days are over for the prices and for what more recalls done with all gm products
There were no incentives when I bought my 2022 CT5. It was either pay full list price or go without. Since my Pontiac was knocking on deaths door, I bought the car.
However I did order what I wanted. Not all the needless bling that the dealers normally stock.
# 1 to much emphasis on EV,, #2 No updated resigned XT5 sent to china #3 lease programs out of sight ,,#4 poor exterior and interior colors and cheap materials .
Cadillac is suffering from a severe identity crisis.
Are they the traditional luxury brand as exemplified by the BOF RWD V8 Escalade that adheres to classic Cadillac values of room and silence. The Escalade is akin to an old Fleetwood and most closely mimics the big sedan products from their heyday.
Are they instead a BMW wannabe brand still chasing the German marque as they’ve been attempting for years with the V-Series and the parade of CTS/STS/CT5-type models. They’ve never really been successful at selling canyon-carving sports sedans despite 30 years of trying.
And then there’s the current movement to make Cadillac into an all-electric brand. The latest iteration sees Cadillac as a Lucid or Tesla alternative eschewing ICEs for giant battery packs and station wagon bodystyles; Lyriq, Optiq, and Vistiq anchor this version of Cadillac.
Lastly there is Cadillac as a hyper-luxury brand with the Celestiq competing in the ultra high-end stratosphere with Rolls Royce and Bentley. This ill-advised latest attempt with $350,000 price tags stands in stark contrast with a sort of luxury-on-the-cheap Cadillac as personified by the XT4/5/6 and the previous XTS where Chevrolets were modified into Cadillacs. Prices for these Cadillacs were roughy 1/10th of the Celestiq’s.
Further clouding any brand identity is the foray into Formula One where petrol-powered cars race in motor racing’s pinnacle series. Trouble is Cadillac has a stated goal of being an all-electric brand.
Overall it just a muddled mess. Cadillac needs to find an identity to stick to it. As it stands now, nobody really knows what a Cadillac is anymore.
You know most the time I read these comments and just laugh because the commenters are just well to put it plainly not too smart! But I have to admit you really nailed it on this one rocket. What Cadillac needs is a product planner with your insight. I agree wholeheartedly with what you said. As a side note I just drove my brother’s 2025 ct5 turbo 4 with the Platinum package 300 miles over the Thanksgiving weekend. He had a 2019 ct5 with the same motor. Wow I have to say the 2025 is one sweet ride I love the curved display and I was shocked at how smooth and seamless the turbo 4 was with a 10-speed automatic. His previous ct5 was nice but this one honestly seems world class.
You need to take Mary’s place and tell them they can save money by paying you 20M less than her. Everyone would be better off.
They really need to bring the CTS back to America- a bigger sedan- a more luxury sedan/ let people order it like they did the Lyriq
They also, need to bring the CT6 back- I currently have the last 2020 premium luxury and would like the newer one
Make more V8 Blackwings. Large Cadillac dealerships are asking for more than the limited units they’re allocated as each and every one of them lands a buyer.