Cadillac has started series production of its first electric model Lyriq in the USA at GM’s Spring Hill assembly plant in the state of Tennessee. Currently, however, the electric SUV can no longer be ordered, as new orders will not be accepted until 19 May.
Production of the first customer vehicles comes around two months after the start of pre-series production, which Cadillac launched in January. The current announcement on the start of production does not specify when the first vehicles are to be delivered.
GM President Mark Reuss also attended the ceremony in Tennessee, calling it a “monumental day for the entire GM team.” “We retooled Spring Hill Assembly with the best, most advanced technology in the world and the team worked tirelessly to complete the preparations nine months ahead of the original schedule,” Reuss said. The Lyriq sets the standard for Cadillac’s future, he added.
Reservations for the ‘Debut Edition’ of the Cadillac Lyriq sold out in just over ten minutes in late summer 2021. Those orders are now being processed. Cadillac will not take additional orders for the Lyriq until 19 May 2022. Reports from February also show that demand is high: at the time, Reuters wrote, citing suppliers, that GM now plans to build 25,000 units of the electric SUV this year instead of 3,200 Lyriqs.
The Lyriq is the first Cadillac model based on General Motors’ Ultium platform. This electric platform includes a common electric vehicle architecture and powertrain components such as battery cells, modules, packs, Ultium drive units, EV motors and integrated power electronics. The first plant to produce Ultium vehicles is ‘Factory Zero’ in Detroit-Hamtramck – Spring Hill is the second plant.
In China, Cadillac had already started pre-selling the Lyriq in November 2021. The model will be produced there by the GM-SAIC joint venture.
Keyword: Production kicks off for the Cadillac Lyriq