Cadillac Announces Long-Term Vision for Korea

Targets 10% share of imported luxury car market Unveils all-new CTS luxury sedan, the centerpiece product of Cadillac’s expansion

Busan--May 29, 2014: Cadillac today announced its new long-term vision for enhancing its competitiveness and promoting its growth in the Korean imported premium car market at the 2014 Busan International Motor Show.

Cadillac has been a leader in innovative design and technology since its establishment 112 years ago. Despite its great heritage, it is now one of the fastest-growing luxury brands worldwide. Last year, Cadillac achieved global growth of 28 percent backed by its expanded and elevated new product portfolio. Cadillac is stepping up its efforts to enhance its long-term competitiveness with the introduction of new models such as the ATS and all-new CTS.

One of the luxury brand’s key markets is Korea. The nation’s imported car market has grown dramatically in recent years, backed by the diversification of market demand and the launch of many new models by global automakers. Sales in the segment surpassed 150,000 vehicles in 2013.

“Cadillac, along with Chevrolet, is a global brand that General Motors has nurtured,” said GM Korea President and CEO Sergio Rocha. “Our goal is to raise the awareness and competitiveness of Cadillac in Korea through the aggressive growth of our product portfolio and sales network.”

New Product Portfolio

GM Korea is in the process of building a complete product portfolio by adding more than one new model to the Cadillac product lineup every year. This will allow the brand to keep up with the ever-changing trends in the imported car market.

As part of its plan, Cadillac today showed the all-new CTS for the first time in Korea. The luxury sedan is the third generation of the nameplate, the signature model that has played a leading role in Cadillac’s product portfolio. Cadillac plans to introduce another new model in Korea later this year.

Strengthened Sales Network

Cadillac’s three showrooms in Seoul, Daejeon and Busan will undergo a major upgrade. In addition, Cadillac will create synergies with Chevrolet’s nationwide sales network. The Cadillac network will be expanded to include combo-type dealerships with Chevrolet in selected locations where Chevrolet already has outlets.

With the expansion of its sales network, Cadillac will establish the foundation for enhancing its brand power and sales efficiency. In addition, GM Korea will continue to introduce new marketing campaigns aimed at strengthening the brand identity of Cadillac as well as Chevrolet.

Expanding Market Share

Cadillac’s plan is to capture 10 percent of the country’s imported luxury car market, which is dominated by German premium brands, within the next 10 years through continuous new product launches, its strengthened sales network and a diverse range of marketing activities.

All-New Cadillac CTS Unveiled in Korea

The company unveiled the all-new Cadillac CTS sedan today. The third-generation CTS is based on GM’s global performance luxury vehicle rear-wheel-drive architecture that also underpins the award-winning ATS sport sedan, moving Cadillac into the prestigious class of midsize luxury sedans.

The all-new CTS embodies Cadillac’s definition of a luxury performance sedan, with an advanced lightweight structure that fosters class-challenging driving performance, a dramatic design that reflects the evolution of Cadillac’s Art & Science design philosophy, and cutting-edge safety technologies that allow complete control of the car and help avoid crashes.

Since its debut at the 2013 New York International Auto Show, the all-new CTS has been highly acclaimed for its performance and style. It was named the 2014 Motor Trend Car of the Year, one of Car and Driver’s 10 Best, Road & Track’s 2013 Luxury Car of the Year, and the Best Luxury Sedan in the Motor Week Driver's Choice Awards.

“The previous-generation CTS has helped build awareness of Cadillac in Korea,” said GM Korea Co., Ltd. President Chang Jae-joon. “By delivering performance, design and technology, we’re confident that the all-new CTS will strengthen the competitiveness of Cadillac in the midsize luxury sedan segment.”

The all-new CTS has longer, lower and more athletic-looking proportions. While the CTS has grown 120 mm in length, its roofline and cowl – the base of the windshield – are about 25 mm lower. These dimensions complement the longer exterior to accentuate the car’s lean aesthetics.

The curb weight of the all-new CTS is 130 kg less than its predecessor. Lightweight features, including Cadillac’s first aluminum door structures, contribute to the lower weight and a nearly 50/50 weight balance. It is powered by a 2.0L I4 VVT DI turbocharged engine, which is one of Ward’s 10 Best Engines, giving it the most agile driving dynamics in its class.

The industry’s most advanced damping system, Magnetic Ride Control (MRC), provides unmatched driving performance by sensing road conditions every millisecond and continually adjusting the level of damping in real time. The Driver Awareness Package helps detect hazards and alerts the driver to a potential collision by using radars and cameras. Automatic Parking Assist, 10 air bags and the StabiliTrak electronic stability control system also come standard.

The exterior has become more elegant by trimming the brand’s unique linear design while maintaining the brand’s legacy. The shield grille is wider and gives the front look a stronger presence. Cadillac’s signature vertical LED headlights and taillamps deliver technically evolved intensity. The luxurious interior features exquisite craftsmanship.

The all-new CTS will be offered in three trim levels in Korea: Luxury (rear-wheel drive), Premium (rear-wheel drive) and Premium AWD (all-wheel drive). Pricing will be announced when the new sedan is released in June.