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GM Announces Changes to Cadillac Production in Tennessee
DETROIT — General Motors has decided to discontinue the production of the gasoline-powered Cadillac XT6 crossover at its Spring Hill assembly plant in Tennessee by the end of this year. In contrast, the company will extend the production of the smaller XT5 crossover at the same facility until at least the end of 2026, according to an internal memo shared with plant employees and subsequently verified by GM.
A representative from General Motors clarified that these changes are not a result of tariffs but are aligned with the company’s broader strategy to transition towards an extensive lineup of all-electric vehicles, including cars, crossovers, and SUVs.
Crossovers like the XT6 combine features from traditional cars with the robust characteristics of SUVs, appealing to a broad range of customers. However, Cadillac’s plans have shifted as the company reevaluates its strategy for electric vehicle (EV) sales, moving away from a commitment to sell exclusively EVs by 2030.
Over the past year, Cadillac has launched six new or updated models, including both electric and gasoline-powered vehicles. Among these, the Cadillac Lyriq, the brand’s first entirely electric vehicle, has been produced at the Tennessee plant since 2022. The facility has also recently begun manufacturing the Vistiq, a new three-row crossover expected to fill the market gap left by the XT6.
The internal memo highlighted “strong customer demand” for the XT5, which was initially slated to cease production this year. The XT5 has performed well, ranking as Cadillac’s third-best-selling vehicle in the previous year, trailing only the iconic Escalade SUV and the Lyriq.
In contrast, sales figures for the XT6 have been disappointing since its introduction in 2019, averaging around 19,000 units annually. This model was the last of GM’s three-row crossovers released during that period and shares several components with the more affordable GMC Acadia.
The memo from plant management also indicated that there would be scheduled downtime for the facility during the week of May 12. GM confirmed this temporary shutdown, along with planned layoffs for some workers, as part of efforts to realign production with current demand levels.
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