Cadillac sales were up 39.9% in May 2013 compared to the same period in 2012 as the ATS at 3,259 and XTS at 2,429 continue to shine.  SRX was down slightly but still led all models at 3,744.  CTS sales were the lone low light at 2,457 units, or 41% off last year.

DETROIT – Cadillac’s year-to-date sales increase of 38 percent will be the brand’s largest since 1976, making the 110-year old brand the fastest growing major automotive brand in the U.S.

When sales are officially reported later today, Cadillac’s May increase of 40 percent will mark its 12^th consecutive month of sales growth.

“Cadillac is back.” said Bob Ferguson, vice president, Global Cadillac. “Our growth is product-driven, new luxury vehicles with dramatic design and performance drawing new customers to showrooms.”

The ATS sport sedan, 2013 North American Car of the Year and Esquire Car of the Year, has been instrumental in attracting new buyers. Roughly 70 percent of ATS buyers are choosing their first Cadillac.  The XTS luxury sedan, introduced in the summer of 2012, had its best retail sales in May. Cadillac’s total sedan portfolio is up 122 percent so far in 2013.

Cadillac’s iconic Escalade will report its best May sales since 2008

Overall Cadillac continues to make good progress compared to the empty line up last year, but at just under 70K cars year to date is behind the class leaders for the first 5 months.  In May Mercedes was up 8%, for 27,359 units — so Cadillac needs to double sales to be competitive,

May Highlights (vs. 2012)

• Cadillac’s 40 percent sales increase marked its best May since 2007.

   

I wonder who found and snapped up the last STS?

Cadillac sales were up 34% in April, with momentum led by the new models — ATS and XTS.  Cadillac SRX sales were actually down 13%, and CTS sales were off 43% as we look for the new 2014 redesign to arrive in the Fall.

Cadillac ATS — Theo Johnson tests the brake system on an ATS

Cadillac XTS sales at 2,891, and ATS sales at 2,725 took up the slack, pushing Cadillac to 37% increased sales so far for the year.

ATS sales are still below target — this model should be selling at 5K+ per month.  Although it appears at first that ATS is cannibalizing CTS sales, 80%+ of ATS sales are conquests, not former CTS customers.  Cadillac is still not getting the ‘goodness’ of the new ATS design and execution in front of their target customers.

Sales for the Mercedes brand rose 5.8 percent to 23,635 in April, while BMW posted a 10 percent increase to 23,225.  Cadillac has a lot of room for improved sales.

Cadillac was the industry’s fastest-growing brand in the first quarter, and April’s results bring the brand’s year-to-date sales increase to 37 percent.

Cadillac Press Release:

DETROIT – Driven by the popularity of two new cars – the ATS and larger XTS – sales of Cadillac luxury sedans are up 109 percent compared to models the brand was selling a year ago. April was the 11^th consecutive month of year-over-year retail sales gains.

Total U.S. sales for Cadillac were up 34 percent for April and 37 percent for the first four months of the year.

“The ATS sport sedan and XTS luxury sedan have significantly broadened our portfolio, and are attracting new buyers to Cadillac,” said Chase Hawkins, vice president of Cadillac sales and service. “This growth is driving market share increases for the overall brand and in specific key segments.”

The ATS sport sedan continued to bring in new customers from competitors. More than eight in 10 ATS buyers traded in something other than a Cadillac with most non-GM trade-ins coming from BMW, Audi and Lexus.

The XTS luxury sedan gained nearly a full percentage point of market share in April, despite deep incentive offers from luxury competitors. April was also XTS’s best month for sales to individual customers since its launch.