Category Archives: Cadillac News

Have your Cadillac on your phone

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OnStar and GM have expanded the abilities of applications on smart phones.  Today’s news (see press release below) allows your smart phone to do everything your keyless remote can, but from a distance.  Forgot to lock your car?  You can lock it or unlock it from another city with your phone.  Need your current odometer reading?  Your phone knows it by asking your car.

Each brand will bring forward brand-specific additional features, so we’ll have to wait and see exactly what the Cadillac application does in addition.

Here are my ideas for additional features:

  • I would like to see vehicle diagnostics brought to the cell phone.  Show me if the car has a DTC (diagnostic trouble code) showing, and give me some background on possible causes for the DTC as well as info on the nearest Mr GoodWrench facility and scheduling info for my home Dealer.
  • I would like to be able to see and record video from the rear-view camera remotely.    Ideally be able to see video of the interior of the Cadillac and around the Cadillac, if additional cameras were added.  The purpose would be to pull up live video from the car on my phone that shows me that the Cadillac is okay and unmolested.
  • I would like my smart phone to track the patterns I drive and suggest faster routes.
  • I would like to see a trip map that showed instant MPG along every part of my route along with average MPG for that trip.
  • I would like my smartphone to be able to upload my trip to the internet for reference.

Do you have any ideas for additional features you would like to see in a smart-phone link to your Cadillac?

OnStar Expands Mobile App Technology Availability

Soon Available for 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles

Detroit – Owners of most new 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles will soon be able to control key vehicle functions from their smart phones, thanks to the power of OnStar.

Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC are leveraging OnStar technology to develop the most robust mobile applications on the market for new vehicle owners. Each of the brand-specific apps will allow owners to activate all of the functions available on a traditional vehicle key fob – remote start, horn and lights and door lock/unlock – securely from their smartphones. This means drivers will no longer have to be within a requisite distance, or even have their keys with them, to control these functions on their vehicles.

“Giving our customers control of their vehicles with smart phone application technology is a key advantage of OnStar’s in-vehicle connectivity,” said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. “This technology empowers drivers to make decisions about their travels well before they enter the vehicle, meaning their full attention can stay where it needs to be – on the road ahead.”

For example, say someone is racing to catch a flight and realizes at the gate that he forgot to lock his vehicle. OnStar’s mobile app technology allows him to log into his Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick or GMC app, enter his custom PIN and send a remote lock signal to his vehicle, giving him the peace of mind to go on with his trip knowing his vehicle is secure.

Or, for example, a family attending a baseball game on a hot summer day could remotely start their vehicle as they are leaving the ballpark, so the vehicle is cooled to a comfortable temperature by they reach it.

In addition, the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC apps will leverage OnStar’s unique connection to the vehicle to provide key diagnostic information, including fuel tank level and range, remaining oil life, current and recommended tire pressure and lifetime average miles per gallon . The diagnostic information is current as of the last vehicle start, giving OnStar subscribers an up-to-date health report of their vehicle anytime they need it.

Important vehicle information, such as current odometer reading, vehicle VIN and OnStar account number also will be readily accessible within the apps upon secure login. And should OnStar subscribers need assistance with something that the mobile apps don’t provide, they can one-touch dial to specially trained advisors, who are available to assist customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The OnStar mobile app services will be available to millions of drivers of the vast majority of vehicles in the 2011 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC portfolios, including the just-launched Chevrolet Cruze and Cadillac CTS Coupe, and are currently functional on the iPhone and Android systems. The Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC mobile applications will offer a variety of other features tailored specifically for each brand’s customers that will be revealed in totality when the brands begin bringing their apps to market in the months ahead.

“We’re working aggressively to bring the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC applications to market as soon as possible,” says Joel Ewanick, vice president, GM Marketing. “Because we know that each brand’s customers have different tastes, wants and needs, the apps will be very specifically tailored to offer them the services they value most, leveraging these innovative OnStar features as a compelling mutual foundation.”

OnStar and Chevrolet announced the auto industry’s first working smartphone application for the Chevrolet Volt at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. The Volt mobile application is a unique app that will be available to customers in tandem with the launch of the vehicle, as previously announced.

Cadillac Sales continue to Shine — June 2010

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Cadillac June 2010 sales were good, up by 39% compared to June 2009.  Cadillac CTS sales rebounded, breaking 4K sales on the month and eclipsing Cadillac SRX sales for the month at 3,804 for SRX.  The Cadillac DTS did not sustain the higher numbers from May 2010, but almost matched June 2009 sales.  Escalade sales continue to hold similar to 2009.

With the Cadillac CTS Coupe arriving in showrooms soon it is very promising to see the CTS sales do well now.

“Cadillac has been well-positioned with SRX and CTS to win over luxury buyers as they return to the market,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president for Cadillac sales and service. “We expect the trend to continue with the launch of CTS Coupe and addition of Cadillac Premium Care Maintenance.  We’re strengthening the line-up with a distinctive new vehicle and elevating the brand by providing owners with a long-term commitment to customer service.”


 June (Calendar Year-to-Date)
January – June

2010 2009 % Chg Volume %Chg per S/D 2010 2009 %Chg Volume
Selling Days (S/D) 25 25




CTS 4,193 3,193 31.3 31.3 19,085 20,559 -7.2
DTS 1,591 1,627 -2.2 -2.2 9,014 8,110 11.1
Escalade 1,008 1,043 -3.4 -3.4 7,514 7,549 -0.5
Escalade ESV 607 431 40.8 40.8 3,388 2,880 17.6
Escalade EXT 147 184 -20.1 -20.1 813 1,256 -35.3
SRX 3,804 677 461.9 461.9 22,655 3,855 487.7
STS 409 1,220 -66.5 -66.5 2,145 3,914 -45.2
XLR 29 98 -70.4 -70.4 171 460 -62.8
Cadillac Total 11,788 8,473 39.1 39.1 64,785 48,583 33.3

News Release:

  • Sixth straight month that GM’s four brand’s sales increased by more than 20 percent
  • Calendar-year-to-date sales for GM’s four brands are up 32 percent
  • GM full-size pickup sales increase 27 percent; up 12 percent year-to-date
  • GM crossover sales are up 81 percent year-to-date

DETROIT – June sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac increased by a combined 36 percent to 194,828 units in the United States. This is the sixth straight month in which sales for GM’s brands increased year-over-year by more than 20 percent. Year-to-date sales for the four brands also have risen 32 percent to 1,069,577 units – an increase of 258,368 units compared to last year.

The increase was fueled by the continuing success of the company’s launch vehicles, its growing sales of compact, midsize and luxury crossovers, and some recovery in the markets for pickups and full-size SUVs.

The resurgence in large pickup truck sales was a key factor behind June’s results, according to Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. Combined sales of the Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Avalanche, and GMC Sierra were up 27 percent for the month, compared to June 2009 and are up 12 percent year-to-date.

“As companies continue to invest in their businesses, we expect this segment to continue to recover,” said Johnson. “We think the release of some pent up demand in the pickup market is an indication that a fundamental part of the U.S. economy is gradually strengthening.”

GM’s launch vehicles continue to be a driving factor behind the company’s sales increases. Retail sales of the Chevrolet Equinox and Camaro, Buick LaCrosse and Regal, GMC Terrain, and Cadillac SRX and CTS Wagon have increased 222 percent year-to-date through June and totaled 172,083. This represents about one out of every four retail sales for GM.

June Crossover Performance Keeps GM the Industry Crossover Leader

Chevrolet and GMC dealers reported 16,093 deliveries of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain – a 208 percent improvement from June 2009. For the year, sales of these vehicles are up almost 193 percent, to 94,105 sales through June.

Mid-size crossovers Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia continued to show improvement. During June, their combined sales increased 39 percent. Year-to-date, they are up 28 percent.

The Cadillac SRX luxury crossover maintained its impressive run with an increase of 462 percent during the month. Year-to-date, SRX sales are up 488 percent.

Month-end dealer inventory in the U.S. stood at about 438,000 units, which is about 30,000 higher compared to May 2010, and about 144,000 lower than June 2009.

June Key Facts and Brand Results:

  • Sixth consecutive month that sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac have increased by 20 percent or more.
  • Ninth consecutive month of total and retail sales gains for GM’s four brands.
  • Fifth month in a row of total sales improvement for GM’s full-size pickups.
  • Fourth consecutive month of double-digit retail sales increases for GM’s brands.
  • Chevrolet:
    Chevrolet delivered 141,381 vehicles in June, a 32 percent gain year-over-year. This includes an 11 percent increase in retail sales, marking the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year retail sales gains. The largest sales increases were from Chevrolet line of full-size trucks. Silverado registered 30,994 total sales in June – a year-over-year increase of 25 percent, and posted the best retail sales month of the year. (READ MORE)
  • Buick:
    Buick posted a 53 percent sales increase in June compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date total sales for Buick are up 48 percent. Driven by the momentum around the LaCrosse and Enclave, retail sales saw a 28 percent increase for the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year retail sales increases, making June the best total sales month for Buick in 2010. (READ MORE)
  • GMC:
    GMC reported a 45 percent increase in total sales and 34 percent increase in retail sales in the month of June, compared to the same month last year. This is the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases for GMC, and for the calendar year GMC total sales were up 29 percent over last year. (READ MORE)
  • Cadillac:
    Total sales for June were up 39 percent versus the same month last year. Retail sales were up 35 percent. SRX total sales rose 462 percent for its 10th straight month of triple-digit percentage increases. CTS posted its best retail month of the year. CTS total sales were up 31 percent and retail sales were up 23 percent. (READ MORE)
  • GM’s Full-Size Utilities Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL increased 69 percent during the month, totaling 15,192 deliveries. Year-to-date, sales of these vehicles are up 19 percent.
  • Fleet sales for GM’s four brands were 59,571 for the month.

    • Survey says: Purchasing a new Cadillac is Satisfying

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    Cadillac was edged out by Jaguar for the 2009 JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index lead.  Cadillac and Jaguar each got top marks in each category except price — helping the customer find a vehicle that fit their budget.  3rd place Lexus fell back in Overall Experience, Sales People, and Paperwork/Finance.

    The index is a survey of 48K customers who purchased cars between May and June of 2009.  The index focuses on the customer satisfaction with the new-vehicle purchase experience.

    Interesting that if this were a test in school, the top un-curved letter grade would be a “B”.

    Press Release Figure

    WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 8 December 2009 – Overall satisfaction with the new-vehicle purchase experience has improved from 2008, but automakers are losing 12 percent of new-vehicle sales to other brands, on average, as a result of poor customer treatment at dealerships, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) StudySM released today.

    The study is a comprehensive analysis of the new-vehicle purchase experience. Overall customer satisfaction is measured for five factors: dealership facility; salesperson; paperwork/finance process; delivery process; and vehicle price.

    Overall satisfaction averages 836 points on a 1,000-point scale in 2009, up by 11 points from 2008.1 Satisfaction with each of the five factors improves from 2008, with the greatest improvements in the two areas that are most within the dealer’s control-the salesperson and delivery process factors.

    In particular, salespeople have improved most notably from 2008 in helping buyers stay within their budgets and in negotiating prices quickly. Within the delivery process, dealerships have improved considerably in providing complete explanations of the owner’s manual and explaining vehicle features.

    “In this difficult economy, dealerships are working particularly hard to close sales, but need to be attentive to customers without exerting unwanted sales pressure,” said Jon Osborn, director of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. “Nearly one in four buyers in 2009 reports experiencing sales pressure from their selling dealer.”

    The study finds that more than one in five shoppers who leave a dealership without purchasing a vehicle do so because they experienced poor treatment or dealer performance issues such as pricing games, sales pressure tactics or discourteous treatment. While 43 percent of these buyers ultimately purchased from a different dealer of the same brand, 57 percent decided to purchase from a different brand altogether. For the industry as a whole, this equals a 12 percent loss of retail sales to other brands.

    “With the billions of dollars that automakers spend designing, producing and marketing new vehicles, as well as in driving customers to showrooms, it is critical that potential buyers are not pushed out the dealer’s door because of a poor customer experience,” said Osborn. “Manufacturers and dealers should be concerned with the experiences of all shoppers, whether they purchase or not. From a buyer’s perspective, recollections of their shopping experience include not only the selling dealer, but also all of the other dealers they visited.”

    Sales Satisfaction Index Segment Rankings
    Of the 38 brands included in the study, 29 have improved from 2008. Jaguar receives an award for a second consecutive year and ranks highest in 2009 among luxury brands in satisfying buyers with the new-vehicle sales process. Jaguar performs particularly well in the salesperson and paperwork/finance process factors. Following Jaguar in the luxury brand rankings are Cadillac, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz (in a tie) and Land Rover, respectively.

    Among mass market brands, Mercury ranks highest and performs particularly well in all five factors. Following in the mass market segment rankings are smart, Buick, Pontiac and Chevrolet, respectively. All seven Ford and GM mass market brands rank above the segment average.

    MINI improves by 16 rank positions from 2008 to rank sixth in 2009, and is the most-improved brand this year.

    The study findings also include the following key trends:

    • On average, new-vehicle buyers shop at fewer than three dealerships, including the dealership from which they ultimately purchased. Nearly one-half (49%) of all new-vehicle buyers visit only their selling dealer during the purchase process. Therefore, dealers should view all shoppers as serious prospects and treat them accordingly.
    • Satisfaction scores among buyers who visited only the selling dealer (848, on average) are considerably higher than those of customers who visited more than one dealer (826, on average). Customers who have a particularly satisfying experience at the first dealer they visit are less likely to shop other dealers.

    The 2009 Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study is based on responses from approximately 48,000 new-vehicle buyers who purchased or leased their new vehicles in May or June 2009. The study was fielded between August and October 2009. To view ratings on customer satisfaction with the new-vehicle sales process or an article on study results, visit JDPower.com.

    1Due to a change in survey methodology, for the 2009 study, the overall satisfaction score for 2008 has been recalculated to allow for year-to-year comparison.

    About J.D. Power and Associates
    Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction.  The company’s quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually.  For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

    About The McGraw-Hill Companies
    Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:  MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts, Capital IQ, J.D. Power and Associates, McGraw-Hill Construction and Aviation Week. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were $6.4 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.