General Motors hopes a new all-electric version of the Cadillac Escalade can spark the same success for a new generation of affluent purchasers, 25 years after the car introduced the company to incredibly lucrative luxury SUVs.
On August 9, GM unveiled its 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ, the first traditional Cadillac model to be released as an EV. The IQ has 450 miles of range, the longest of any GM EV to date, and a 55-inch LED dashboard screen, giving it more power than the supercharged V-8 SUV.
“The importance of Cadillac to our global portfolio can’t be overstated,” Mark Reuss, GMs’ president, said during the vehicles reveal in New York City. He adds, “You are witnessing the rise of Cadillac.”
The car will start at around $130,000 when it enters dealer showrooms in the latter part of next summer. This is more expensive than its conventional counterparts, which have been selling this year on average for roughly $115,500. However, it is still cheaper than the vehicle’s limited-edition performance variant, which started at around $150,000 last year.
In contrast to Cadillac’s Lyriq and Celestiq EVs, which signified a fresh entry for the brand, it’s planned to gradually replace the current gas- and diesel-powered vehicles. By the end of the year, Cadillac intends to introduce two additional all-electric vehicles.
The three-row electric SUV will serve as crucial evidence demonstrating to investors that GM can keep its pledge to build profitable EVs and boost sales to $90 billion annually by 2030. Furthermore, investors will be interested to see how, or if, the automaker can extend the high-profit margins of the Escalade, estimated to be upwards of 30%.
A plant in Detroit will also create electric versions of the GMC Hummer, Chevrolet Silverado, and Cruise Origin shuttle. The vehicles all share GM’s new “Ultium” vehicle base, batteries, motors, and other components. Along with full-size SUVs from Chevrolet and GMC that use the same car chassis and other parts as the Escalade, production of the classic Escalade will continue at GM’s Arlington Assembly in Texas.
