Cadillac sales in April were up 5.1% overall for the month, although still down for the year to date.  SRX moved over 4,500 units again in April, and CTS made a surprising showing — perhaps best month ever for the new redesign?

ATS was flat, still well off the 5K per month target.  XTS was down sharply; CTS may be grabbing up all the XTS sales now?    Escalade continues to fade.

The ELR sold 61 examples, first time it has not sold more per month than previous:

• 6 in Dec
• 41 in Jan
• 58 in Feb
• 81 in March
• 61 in April

And a new total of 247 ELRs have found new homes.  At this pace we might predict a total sales near 750 for the year?

The press release below suggests 61% of Cadillac buyers were new to the marque, so that seems good news for overall growth.

Press Release:

DETROIT – Cadillac’s U.S. sales for April show that the brand’s products continue to attract new buyers. Retail sales to individual consumers were up 12 percent, with total sales up 5 percent, including a 55-percent decline in fleet sales.

Sixty-one percent of U.S. Cadillac buyers in April were new to the brand, and did not trade-in or dispose of a prior Cadillac model.

The SRX crossover is selling at a record pace through the first four months of 2014, and increased 31 percent in April year-over-year. Initial deliveries of the all-new, next generation 2015 Escalade SUV began in the U.S. in April. Sales are off to a brisk start, as Cadillac closed April with less than five days’ supply of the new Escalade available.

The 2014 Cadillac CTS sport sedan sales increased 36 percent. The brand estimates that the CTS has gained more than two points of market share so far in 2014 in its midsize luxury car segment. The 2014 CTS has been named Motor Trend Car of the Year, one of Car and Driver’s 10 Best, Road & Track’s 2013 Luxury Car, an Edmunds.com Top Rated Vehicle and an Automobile Magazine 2014 All-Star.

“It was a strong month for Cadillac, as new products are driving growth and attracting new buyers,” said Bill Peffer, Cadillac U.S. vice president of sales and service. “Strong sales in March and April have enabled us to pull even with 2013, despite the industry’s very cold start to the year.”

Cadillac last month was also rated highest in customer satisfaction with dealer service among luxury brands by J.D. Power. The ranking followed being named a J.D. Power 2014 Customer Champion in March

In March the SRX continued to shine for Cadillac and again blew through 5K units sold, up 23.6%.  SRX is on pace to eclipse CTS and ATS sales combined.

Newly redesigned CTS sales were up 4.6%, but ATS sales were down 16.9%.  Another signal that ATS is not resonating with its target market.

Surprisingly XTS sales were off 30.5% to just over 2K units sold.  This suggests that CTS is grabbing some XTS sales?

Another 81 ELR’s found new homes, for a total of 181 in 2014.  So the trend so far is 6 in Dec, 41 in Jan, 58 in Feb, 81 in March.  All headed in the right direction.

Escalade sales were down across the board.  Fuel prices are steady during this period, so not sure if this reflect the lackluster response for the new GM Truck lines or an Escalade specific issue.

Summary

GM Cadillac notes: Deliveries of the Cadillac SRX were up 37 percent. In addition, the CTS family was up 11 percent on the strength of the new 2014 CTS sedan, which is the 2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

The Cadillac SRX sold 5,058 luxury cross-overs in February, a 23% improvement year over year.  Every other model was snowed under by the seasonal weather — the newly redesigned CTS led ATS led XTS sales for sedans.

58 more Electric-extended-range Luxury ELR’s found lucky new owners, for a total of 99 units year to date.  The EXT has been discontinued, so no surprise there as the last few models find owners.

Overall Cadillac sales need a significant boost.  Yes, it will help to see an ATS Coupe and the new Omega-based Large Sedan arrive.  But the ATS sales are well below par and actions are needed to improve.