Cadillac has been struggling to deliver enough examples of the Lyriq SUV in North America, but that hasn’t prevented it from offering the EV in foreign markets. GM announced today that the Lyriq is now available to order in Switzerland, with more European markets to be added to the whitelist over the course of the next couple of years.
The news, reported by Bloomberg, is significant because GM effectively withdrew from Europe in 2017, selling its Opel and Vauxhall brands to PSA, which then joined forces with FCA to become part of the Stellantis empire. Though it’s possible to buy some premium and performance GM products in Europe like the Corvette and Cadillac’s XT4, GM’s presence in the continent is minimal.
GM tried for years to establish Cadillac as a viable rival to premium royalty like BMW and Mercedes, but Europeans never really bought into the idea. Maybe that will change this time because the latest Cadillacs like the Lyriq are handsome machines and the Ultium EV platform tech is on point.
The Tennessee-built Lyric starts at CHF82,000 (€85,200 / $89,600) in Switzerland, which looks terrible value to Americans who can pick one up in the U.S. for less than $60k, but it means the Cadillac undercuts key European rivals. An entry-level BMW iX xDrive40 will set you back CHF95,900 in Switzerland (€99,630 / $104,800) and can only manage 264 miles (425 km) on a full charge, whereas the Lyriq is rated at 329 miles (530 km).
Related: GM To Relaunch In Europe With All-Electric Range From Multiple Brands This Fall
But, while it’s not as glamorous as the Lyriq and slightly smaller, Tesla’s Model Y poses a threat that can’t be dismissed. Swiss EV fans can pick up a Model Y Long Range for CHF55,990 (€58,200 / $61,200) and that has a range of 331 miles (533 km).
Bloomberg reports that GM will sell Cadillac EVs to European buyers through its websites and flagship stores, including the Swiss one in Zurich. The brand will roll out more Cadillac models in Europe over the next few years and wants to expand sales to Sweden, France, and three more countries in the region.
