During the recent launch of the 2025 Cadillac Lyriq RHD in the Asian country, Cadillac announced the debut of its new right-hand-drive electric vehicle strategy in Japan.
General Motors’ luxury brand has just announced the start of a new era in Japan with the local debut of its new right-hand-drive EV strategy, marking a major step in its global expansion story and completely transforming its business in the Japanese market. At the Cadillac Lyriq launch event in Tokyo, Cadillac confirmed that it will introduce a full lineup of EVs in the world’s largest RHD vehicle market.
“Cadillac is making a major push into right-hand-drive markets, announcing plans to offer a full lineup of Cadillac EVs in Japan, including the Lyriq, Vistiq, Optiq, and Lyriq-V,” said Cadillac Japan in a statement. “This move marks a historic transformation for the brand in the region,” the brand added.
This marks the first time Cadillac has debuted and launched a line of right-hand drive vehicles in Japan since it began selling cars there in 1915. Until now, the American luxury brand has operated in the Japanese market as a niche brand with a vehicle lineup that is very limited in quantity and volume, due to its left-hand-drive configuration.
In this sense, the new right-hand-drive electric vehicle strategy marks the beginning of a transition that will improve the brand’s positioning in Japan and represents a strategic shift to meet the demands of Japanese luxury consumers looking to stand out. After the Lyriq, Cadillac’s RHD EV lineup in Japan will expand in 2026 with the arrival of the Cadillac Optiq, the Cadillac Vistiq and the Cadillac Lyriq-V.
In addition, Cadillac also announced that it is transforming its sales and ownership experience in Japan through an innovative agent model. The brand currently has a network of 13 dealerships and 24 authorized service locations across the country that are embracing the brand’s new global image, transparent pricing policy and agents focused on ensuring customer satisfaction.
Comments
I just don’t get this insistence on competing in Asia. I really don’t. Neither China, South Korea or Japan wants non-domestic vehicles. It’s pretty obvious. Like the EV blunder, once GM becomes obsessed, reality flies right out the window.
I agree with you for general vehicles but there is a market for luxury vehicles – being able to afford a foreign luxury vehicle would be a status signal and this highly coveted. So given this move is being done not by Chevrolet but by Cadillac, it may not be the worst idea.
If there is a business case to be in a market, it would be foolish to not try to re-establish a presence there especially if your models comply with emissions / fuel efficiency standards from the get-go (being EV bypasses all of those entirely).
It’s not obsession, it’s an opportunity for profit. I know you don’t (or refuse to) understand that but that’s how global companies operate.
Not sure about China or South Korea, but Japan is more liberal towards foreign makes especially high-end ones. Remember Mercedes was not only the best selling foreign luxury automaker but best selling foreign automaker period. Their domestic Lexus couldn’t outsell Mercedes until 2023. Despite what others might have said American vehicles can sell decently well in Japan as long as it is RHD. Just look at Jeep the only American automaker which is successful in Japan.
I think calling it ‘competing’ is missing the point. Cadillac’s going to be Cadillac in Asia. Those huge, V8-powered rides, like you see in Japan’s left-hand-drive scene and with the GMC fans in Korea, are a different animal. They’re like rolling symbols of American luxury, something European and Asian brands can’t touch. And yeah, they’re definitely priced like it.
GM killed off Holden in Australia. Yet there’s still a market here for large, V8 sedans. Why don’t GM get their act together, get the CT5 platform in RHD already and sell them down here. We don’t need more $120k + electric cars!
G’day Mate!
Australia killed off Holden. They could have learnt from S. Korea and kept their industrial sector competitive.
GM NA has had a long phobia against RHD vehicles for a century. Good thing they are coming to their senses for overseas markets, just like the rest of global automakers.