Cadillac intends to continue its rapid expansion in the world’s largest car market, and will boost its Chinese retail network over the coming years.
Auto News reports that Cadillac will boast approximately 500 retail locations in China by 2025, significantly more than the 302 locations currently in operation.
Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s 2019 Auto Summit in New York last week, Cadillac president Steve Carlisle said that the automaker has established itself as a “desirable alternative” to the German marques in the eyes of Chinese customers, and that “our growth in China has been driven, in a large part, by our dealer partners in the region.”
Cadillac has been enjoying a lot of success in the country recently, recording six consecutive years of double-digit growth. Additionally, the American car manufacturer is attracting younger buyers, and its average customer in China is just 32-years-old.
In a bid to ensure it retains its popularity, GM’s luxury brand will launch a new or redesigned model every six months on average through 2021. Both the XT5 crossover and CT5 sedan will land on Chinese shores this year. The facelifted XT5 was leaked back in January for the Chinese market and brings with it a number of subtle modifications as well as a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder pumping out 237 hp, while the CT5 was just unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show.
China overtook the U.S. as Cadillac’s top-selling market in 2017. Last year, the car manufacturer sold 205,000 vehicles in the People’s Republic, a 17 per cent increase over 2017. By comparison, in 2018 it shifted 154,700 units across the United States.