Cadillac to Expand in Britain, Hong Kong

[PontiacJ8]

DETROIT (Reuters) - Cadillac, a global symbol of big American cars, will add a British touch by offering models with the steering wheel on the right side as the General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - News) brand tries to break into new markets, a company official said.

Right-hand drive versions of Cadillac's cars are key for the luxury brand to crack the markets of Britain, Hong Kong, South Africa, Japan and Australia, John Howell, Cadillac's director of global brand development, told Reuters in an interview.

Cadillac is close to finalizing plans to set up a dealership group in Britain, a pivotal part of its plans to increase sales in Europe to 10,000 vehicles annually by the end of the decade, up from 791 in 2003.

"We can't really be successful in Europe without something there (in Britain). It's the second-largest market in the European community," Howell said by phone from Prague. "We have to have right-hand drive there if we're going to be successful."

The right-hand drive market of Hong Kong is also essential to conquering mainland China, where the steering wheel is on the left side like most markets around the world.

"Hong Kong is right-hand drive, and it is kind of the California of China, in terms of trend-setting," Howell said. "That will help Cadillac's acceptance on mainland China. We're in a much weaker position if all we have is left-hand drive."

GM formally announced plans in June to invest $3 billion over the next three years in China, the fastest-growing automotive market in the world, to more than double capacity at its vehicle assembly plants. China will soon become the only place outside the United States where GM builds Cadillacs, and could eventually account for one-fifth of Cadillac's global sales, which totaled nearly 228,000 last year, GM officials said.

Full Story HERE

[nadepalma]

It's about time. If Caddy really wants to compete internationally with the other luxo-big boys, then this is a must.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

yea, I saw this article this morning on CNN.Money.com. A headline close by, spun that GM profits may struggle for last month. Still trying to give a negative spin to the domestics.

Meanwhile, on the left of the page however, was a huge headline about some guy driving a hybrid around New York ( The press doing their darndst to sell hybrids). He only got about 45 mpg around New York. *****, my Ford Focus with the Z-Tech HO engine got about 30mpg in city driving. Hmm.....

"Things that make you go, 'hmmm'".

<_<

[tgagneguam]

Originally posted by nadepalma@Jun 29 2004, 03:21 PM
It's about time.

Oui!

[MCGARRETT]

This is one thing that I always thought GM was slow on. If Mercedes, Jaguar, Lexus, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Bentley,and BMW can make identical cars for both left hand and right hand drive markets, then why cant Cadillac or Chevrolet or Pontiac?

[powervette]

LOOK GUYS WHAT TOP GEAR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CADILLAC :



"Cadillac specialise in making cars for people who are about to die of old age. They also have an interesting sideline in cars that look like a complete idiot designed them. However it looks like the one car they make that isn't complete rubbish won't actually make it to the great British shores. But nonetheless Richard went to have a look at what we are missing out on. The CTS is one of the very few American cars that is capable of going round a corner without sliding into a ditch. Its interior is horrid of course, but at least when you put your foot down something happens "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/thisweek/


I HATE STEREOTYPES :angry:

[Codester66]

are their cars any better? why do i always hear or read remarks like that from british journalists? maybe a couple decades ago we didnt put out world class cars, but to say that we still produce **** is insulting. its not like they have much of a presence over here.

[T-Type]

Originally posted by powervette@Jun 29 2004, 12:17 PM
LOOK GUYS WHAT TOP GEAR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CADILLAC :

The publication looks like a rag. Talk trash just to draw attention to themselves.

[akumaknight]

They are jelous, that their cars dont have a heritage of kicking *** ^_^;

[GMFAN85]

If you read the whole thing you notice that they were making fun of the Jaguar brand and the Nissan Cube. Apparently they don't like any car that has any sort of style whatsoever.

[AMcA]

They absolutely have to do it if they're to be taken seriously on the world stage.

Three cheers to them for making the effort. This shows they're dead serious at just the right time, as Mercedes slips and BMW weirds-out.

[AMcA]

Originally posted by powervette@Jun 29 2004, 06:17 PM
LOOK GUYS WHAT TOP GEAR HAVE TO SAY ABOUT CADILLAC :



"Cadillac specialise in making cars for people who are about to die of old age. They also have an interesting sideline in cars that look like a complete idiot designed them. However it looks like the one car they make that isn't complete rubbish won't actually make it to the great British shores. But nonetheless Richard went to have a look at what we are missing out on. The CTS is one of the very few American cars that is capable of going round a corner without sliding into a ditch. Its interior is horrid of course, but at least when you put your foot down something happens "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/thisweek/


I HATE STEREOTYPES :angry:

It's the BBC, guys. Have you listened to any of their coverage of the US on the world stage? Yes, believe it or not, the US is the source of each and every one of the world's problems.

They hate our culture. They hate our role in the world. They hate everything about us. They're first rate Continental snobs.

Really, chums, they're beneath our notice.

[patrickbec]

Brilliant news. I hope it doesn't take toom long for Cadillac to make it to South Africa. The key to their success will be to have a range of vehicles: CTS, SRX, STS AND XLR. I know because XLR is built on the C5/C6 platform, that it will be more costly to convert to RHD, but Cadillac MUST do it. I will definately be buying a 3.6l manual CTS if it makes it here in the next 12 months!

As for Top Gear and other British media, they are so anti-American, its hardly worth watching. I remember that Car or Top Gear (can't ecall) said Chrysler's Neon was worst than junk (Quote: "Factors in its favour of buying: Nothing. Factors Against: Everything"). Well I bought a Neon and I love that damn little car. 80 000km and still perfect.

Americans must realise that Europe hates you because you are successful, which they really hate because they think you are all a bunch of idiots raised in cornfields and re-born Christian sundayschool. That is why they hate GW Bush so much: becaquse he reminds them so much of the typical American- "dumb" but successful. When ever I hear Europeans say how dumb Americans are, I love to point out that it must be terrible for Europeans to be secondary militarily, economically and culturally (who watches crappy Euro movies?) than those "dumb" Yanks. That really peeves them off.

Now if only GM would have the confidence to take on the Euro snobs through-out the world with Caddilac, the Euro's would have NOTHING to gloat about!

Oh, happy Independence day for the 4th July to all Americans on here (which is also my bithday!)

[powervette]

Originally posted by patrickbec@Jun 30 2004, 06:09 AM
I love to point out that it must be terrible for Europeans to be secondary militarily, economically and culturally (who watches crappy Euro movies?) than those "dumb" Yanks. That really peeves them off.

Oh, happy Independence day for the 4th July to all Americans on here (which is also my bithday!)

Please don't treat Europe as a whole,the British movies may be rubbish ,but don't say that Euro movies are crappy.I am sure you have't seen any films of Kieslovski or Polanski.
As far as American movies are concerned ,I admit that 20 % of them are good,but most popular American movies as comedies are total **** and You must admit it.
As far as "Top Gear" is concerned I can't say they are totally against U.S cars.I loved their comments about Ford GT and Cadillac Sixteen.

Born on 4th July?
Happy Birthday!

[QueenSheba]

I agree that everyone hates us, even it they smile in the face of our President, take our money to help their helpless and all the other assistance. Still they hate us. I just don't get it. :argue:

And they call us snobs?!@#$% That is the funniest thing I have ever heard of. Then it doesn't make it any better when stars such as Madonna, Gweneth Paltrow and Britney Spears go and live there and pretend that they were born there and that Britain is so much better. Damn it! I hate when Americans make their fortunes here and then think they can tread on America like we are some type of pity cause. Give me a freakin BREAK!!!!! :angry: