GM originally put the launch of the Cadillac Lyriq ahead by several months of the initial release date, but the result has been lagging deliveries. More Hummer EVs were sold last year than the Lyriq models, but that’s finally changing in the new year. The new SUV is being shipped to dealers in large numbers.
Increased Production A Good Sign
The significant production increase is a good sign for the future. The VP of Global Cadillac said that more cars have been shipped in one month to dealers than through the whole calendar year last year. Only 122 Lyriqs were sold in 2022, so the January 2023 total for Lyriq sales is not a super high bar. However, the VP of Global Cadillac considers it a good sign for the future.
The slow deliveries are not indicative of low production, however. GM production plants actually built over 8,000 Lyriqs in 2022. The slow deliveries are due to GM wanting to make sure that the Lyriq wasn’t shipped with any widespread problems. This is mainly because the Lyriq was developed a lot faster than the average GM vehicle.
Cadillac Lyriq Ambassador Program Tracks Early Issues
The quick development also led to the Cadillac Lyriq Ambassador Program. This program tracked the behavior of the Lyriq with a small number of buyers to see how the early builds were functioning. This was naturally done with full permission from the owners and these buyers also got a discount on the vehicle in compensation.
Production of the Lyriq is expected to ramp up even more in the near future. The new Lyriq is already garnering favorable reviews with its 300 miles of range and a new AWD model coming soon. The demand is there for the new Cadillac EV, but deliveries just need to follow up in significant numbers to meet it.
Super Cruise Coming Soon
Another feature coming soon for the Lyriq is Super Cruise. According to the VP of Cadillac Global, it should be coming via an over-the-air update in the near future. The Super Cruise network recently expanded to cover 400,000 miles of roads in America, including Route 66 and the Pacific Coast Highway. As of November 2022, the update was available for the higher trims of full-size GM trucks and most trims of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade SUV.
GM plans to send the Super Cruise update to all EV models, including the CT4, CT5, and Lyriq. Future EVs and the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado should also get the update at some point. In November, the Lyriq did not have Super Cruise at all, but that should change soon. The original iteration only covered 130,000 miles of interstate roads, so the update to include iconic and scenic routes is a big one.
Cadillac fans have a lot to look forward to this year with new models like the Lyriq and the fun Escalade V SUV appearing at dealerships in greater numbers.
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