Cadillac will move to NYC as a separate brand

[DrkPhx]

Interesting move on GM's part. I wonder if they would ever make the Corvette it's own separate brand?

http://blog.caranddriver.com/new-yor...business-unit/

Cadillac announced today that it will be spun out of the traditional General Motors organization as its own distinct business unit and that the decision will accompany a move of the brand’s headquarters next year from the Renaissance Center in Detroit to New York City.
The move was made, according to a GM statement, to establish Cadillac as “more than a division” and to provide it “more freedom to cultivate the brand in pursuit of further global growth.” That growth will be chased under the guidance of new president Johan de Nysschen—ex of Audi and Infiniti—who joined the brand last month.

[PYROLYSIS]

So Cadillac is leaving GM? I didn't get that from the other articles.

[derklug]

Not leaving GM, getting more independence. Now they can have people dedicated to the Cadillac brand, not coming and going from projects for other divisions.

[PYROLYSIS]

Originally Posted by derklug

Not leaving GM, getting more independence. Now they can have people dedicated to the Cadillac brand, not coming and going from projects for other divisions.

That's what I thought. His title said Cadlillac leaving as its own brand.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by derklug

Not leaving GM, getting more independence. Now they can have people dedicated to the Cadillac brand, not coming and going from projects for other divisions.

Its barely even that. They're moving their sales and marketing. Everything related to design and engineering will stay right where it is. All told I think there are about 100 people moving to the new office, thats it.

Sales and marketing are about the only thing a brand controls, at least for the domestic brands. As such, they're the only things that can move.

[SpeedIsLife]

It's a calculated move to put the squeeze on a certain Teutonic brand...
I get that Cadillac is a lux brand..but the attitude coming off of the CEO/brand controller makes me want to punch him in the mouth so hard the only thing that comes out of it will be his teeth. When he basically said "No the prices wont be coming down, stop whining" (as Jalopnik put it) it was an instant turn off.

The attitude from them now makes it so that even if I had the money for a new CTS/ATS..I wouldn't spend it with them.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

It's a calculated move to put the squeeze on a certain Teutonic brand...
I get that Cadillac is a lux brand..but the attitude coming off of the CEO/brand controller makes me want to punch him in the mouth so hard the only thing that comes out of it will be his teeth. When he basically said "No the prices wont be coming down, stop whining" (as Jalopnik put it) it was an instant turn off.

The attitude from them now makes it so that even if I had the money for a new CTS/ATS..I wouldn't spend it with them.

I'm sorry but that's exactly the kind of attitude Cadillac should have.

The prices SHOULDN'T come down and people SHOULD stop whining. If you can't afford it, tough. It's a Cadillac. You're not SUPPOSED to be able to afford one if you don't make enough or haven't saved up enough. That's the nature of the luxury market.

It may sound snobbish or elitist but it's the truth. There's a reason BMW and Mercedes are held in high regard in luxury circles and it's not because they slash prices the minute someone whines about them.

[ssrs2lt]

People feel better when they pay more for what they perceive as a Luxury. If I was Daddy Caddy for a day I would dump and distance myself from the GM recall monster. This move will only help! I saw the NY State ads looking for businesses to move into NY which is only an additional benefit to GM.

[wally mayfield]

detroit:

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by SpeedIsLife

It's a calculated move to put the squeeze on a certain Teutonic brand...
I get that Cadillac is a lux brand..but the attitude coming off of the CEO/brand controller makes me want to punch him in the mouth so hard the only thing that comes out of it will be his teeth. When he basically said "No the prices wont be coming down, stop whining" (as Jalopnik put it) it was an instant turn off.

The attitude from them now makes it so that even if I had the money for a new CTS/ATS..I wouldn't spend it with them.

Think of it this way: if a brand is thought of as cheap, would you consider it to be a luxury brand?

[derklug]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Think of it this way: if a brand is thought of as cheap, would you consider it to be a luxury brand?

This, luxury brands are meant to be exclusive. Think of diamonds and coal, they are both basically the same thing, but one sells by the carat, the other by the ton.

[Number 3]

So in case anyone hasn't noticed, MB, Audi, Lexus and BMW didn't move all their marketing and sales staff to Soho. Just suggesting this, like the new naming scheme, has disaster written alllllll over it.

Not being in NY isn't why Cadillac doesn't resonate with the "new" luxury brand buyer. It is simply lack of product and lack of great product that is hurting them.

Cadillac has 2 SUVs, one an also ran and the other a segment leader.

They have 3 sedan's, two are world class and the 3rd a nice replacement for the old DeVille crowd. Very few are cross shopping the XTS and an A6.

Oh annnnnnnnnd that's it.

The new CT6 will certainly help. But Cadillac needs to be going down market to compete with the A3/Q3 and X1/2 Series. Even MB has a sub $30,000 FWD car. What would you pick, a Malibu LTZ for $33,000 or a MB? Easy pick if you don't mind going a bit smaller.

Cadillac does need to stand on it's own and maybe getting kicked out of the house will get them off their fat lazy buts and truly compete with the big 3 luxury makes.

They have good service and some great products................just not enough of them.

Ohhhhhh and then there is that Audi R8, MB GT thing that Cadillac has zip to compete with.

Before anyone says otherwise, I want them to do well. Cadillac is important. But the current measure in China puts Cadillac so far out of the running it's sad. They weren't even in the top 20 last I looked. They just need the capital to do great things, not simply things that make money. Build great cars...............PERIOD. Make Standard of the World mean something. Don't just be "competitive", don't just be "segment leading" be unadulterated awesome. And that doesn't mean build a bunch of startling looking but otherwise crappy cars like the CTS coupe. Styling exercise, A.................functional car with any reasonable usability, D+.

If you don't make every decision such that the competition is chasing YOU, then you are losing.

Be GREAT!

Just didn't think Soho was what was needed.

[DGthe3]

I take a slightly different view.

Do they need more product? Absolutely. But I think it would be a bad move to sell a sub 30k FWD Cadillac or compact crossover. Let Buick take car of that end of the luxury/premium market. Besides, Mercedes need to do that sort of thing because of CAFE -there are only so many people willing to buy Smart cars. BMW isn't so bad off because Mini does fairly well. And Audi has VW to raise its scores.

Anyways, they need something positioned between the SRX and the Escalade, and a new SRX. Possibly make the new SRX slightly smaller to give more room for a large crossover.


I'm not sure how I feel on the need, perceived or otherwise, for a high performance 2 seater. They need something to make a statement, that embodies everything that the brand can be. The R8 has AWD, clean styling, and mediocre performance. That Mercedes you mentioned is a bully in a 3 piece suit. There is no real BMW halo car, but if the brand were to be summed up in a car it would be the M3.

Now, the important thing is that the R8, M3, and the GT are all similar only in what the represent for their brand. Its unlikely that anyone would cross shop the three of them. But they're each the ultimate expression of the brand. And that is what Cadillac needs. Is that a Cien type thing? Not really, in my opinion. Perhaps its the Elmiraj/CT6. Maybe, but I don't think it goes far enough. But for me, the car that defines what a Cadillac should be is a 1959 Eldorado Convertible. Bringing that monster back as a 'retro' design would be a epic disaster. But a new car that captures that spirit, I think thats what is needed as brand halo. A big, bold, beast of a car. A car where 'too much' is more of a challenge than a limit. If Cadillac wants to stake its claim in the luxury market, I think that is where they need to go.


Oh, and the new naming strategy is stupid. [_]TS seemed fine, with the exception of XTS (which is probably being phased out soon anyways). You have ATS at the bottom, then CTS, and the 'CT6' would then be an ETS. Coupes would be ATC, CTC, ETC, etc . No clue what to do for naming crossovers & SUVs ... but then again, I don't know how the CT[_] system accommodates them either.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I take a slightly different view.

Do they need more product? Absolutely. But I think it would be a bad move to sell a sub 30k FWD Cadillac or compact crossover. Let Buick take car of that end of the luxury/premium market. Besides, Mercedes need to do that sort of thing because of CAFE -there are only so many people willing to buy Smart cars. BMW isn't so bad off because Mini does fairly well. And Audi has VW to raise its scores.

Anyways, they need something positioned between the SRX and the Escalade, and a new SRX. Possibly make the new SRX slightly smaller to give more room for a large crossover.


I'm not sure how I feel on the need, perceived or otherwise, for a high performance 2 seater. They need something to make a statement, that embodies everything that the brand can be. The R8 has AWD, clean styling, and mediocre performance. That Mercedes you mentioned is a bully in a 3 piece suit. There is no real BMW halo car, but if the brand were to be summed up in a car it would be the M3.

Now, the important thing is that the R8, M3, and the GT are all similar only in what the represent for their brand. Its unlikely that anyone would cross shop the three of them. But they're each the ultimate expression of the brand. And that is what Cadillac needs. Is that a Cien type thing? Not really, in my opinion. Perhaps its the Elmiraj/CT6. Maybe, but I don't think it goes far enough. But for me, the car that defines what a Cadillac should be is a 1959 Eldorado Convertible. Bringing that monster back as a 'retro' design would be a epic disaster. But a new car that captures that spirit, I think thats what is needed as brand halo. A big, bold, beast of a car. A car where 'too much' is more of a challenge than a limit. If Cadillac wants to stake its claim in the luxury market, I think that is where they need to go.


Oh, and the new naming strategy is stupid. [_]TS seemed fine, with the exception of XTS (which is probably being phased out soon anyways). You have ATS at the bottom, then CTS, and the 'CT6' would then be an ETS. Coupes would be ATC, CTC, ETC, etc . No clue what to do for naming crossovers & SUVs ... but then again, I don't know how the CT[_] system accommodates them either.

Buick is the reason Chevy can't be as good as it could and Cadillac can't fully compete with the big boys on all levels. To fix this will take more corporate courage than ever demonstrated by a company the size of GM. But it has to go.