70% Of Cadillac Lyriq Debut Editions Were Snapped Up By Conquest Buyers

The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq went into production in Spring Hill, Tennessee on Monday and executives used the event to reveal new details about the crossover and highlight the importance of going electric.

During his speech, GM President Mark Reuss said the Lyriq “marks a new era for Cadillac as we flipped the switch on the transition to a fully electric lineup for the flagship brand of General Motors.”

He went on to describe the electric crossover as a game changer that sets the standard for Cadillac’s future. More interestingly, Reuss said that styling will be a differentiating factor for consumers looking at EVs and noted the “Lyriq tested higher for design than any new vehicle we’ve ever tested in General Motors history.”

Also Read: 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Unveiled In Production Form, Starts At $59,990

His sentiments were echoed by Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey, who said the Lyriq is a “powerful opening salvo” and one of the most important vehicles the brand has ever launched. While some people might be skeptical of this, Harvey revealed 70 percent of reservations for the Debut Edition came from conquest buyers and it’s likely some of them had never considered Cadillac before.

Harvey also stressed the importance of the Lyriq as he noted the share of luxury electric vehicles is slated to jump from 13 percent last year to 36 percent by 2025. That’s one of the reasons that production was pulled ahead by nine months.

The Lyriq will have plenty of company in the future as GM has previously announced plans for an assortment of Cadillac EVs including the Celestiq and a “full-size, three-row luxury SUV that builds on the DNA of the brand’s highly successful Escalade.” They’ll be joined by “globally sized” three-row crossover that “emphasizes interior space and cargo capability for the modern family.”

The brand’s volume electric crossover will likely be the XT4-sized model that promises to offer “attainable luxury.” We haven’t heard much about the vehicle lately, but Forbes is reporting it may have been shown at a recent dealer meeting and could be built in Tennessee alongside an electric crossover from Acura.