US automaker General Motors has unveiled an all-electric version of the luxury Cadillac Lyriq in France as a part of its market expansion in Europe. The carmaker last year returned to Europe and is looking to test whether online-only sales will attract wealthy car buyers in the bloc. The company launched sales in Switzerland in October last year as its first step towards an all-electric return to European markets since selling off the Opel and Vauxhall brands in 2017.
The company is offering its European customers a facility to customise and purchase their Cadillac EVs entirely online, unlike in its home market where customers rely on a large dealer network. The Lyriq can be ordered online in France from March 23 while the luxury EV is due to launch in other European markets, starting with Germany, by year-end. Cadillac also plans to open a showroom in Paris.
Meanwhile, automakers in Europe are focused on trying to build more affordable EVs after coming under pressure from Chinese competitors and slowing demand growth for the battery-powered vehicles. However, GM’s European head Jaclyn McQuaid believes that electric SUVs are expected to remain the fastest-growing segment for zero-emission vehicles, he told reporters at a launch event in Paris. “When you look at the battery electric vehicle market in France, it is the luxury market that grew to the greatest extent. The luxury market is where the focus is right now,” he said.
McQuaid said that other electric models in the bloc would follow into the footsteps, using the same architecture as the Lyriq, which is made in Tennessee. Lyriq has a starting price of 82,000 Swiss francs (USD 93,100) in Switzerland but the pricing for France hasn’t yet been disclosed by the carmaker. Last year, the best-selling electric car in France was the Tesla Model Y SUV, which starts at 42,990 euros (USD 46,500) in that market.
Cadillac Lyriq is built on GM’s breakthrough Ultium platform and the first Cadillac EV SUV to launch in Europe. It packs a 12-module, 102 kilowatt-hour Ultium battery pack and two Ultium drive units, delivering an estimated range of 530 kilometres on a full charge and 528 hp of power. A large, curved-seamless LED display stands out in the cabin while a host of features focus on comfort, safety and performance.