General Motors is shifting its strategy for the luxury Cadillac brand back toward gasoline models, as electric vehicles are selling poorly. One of the upcoming new Cadillac models will be a second-generation three-row gasoline crossover, the XT6.
The first-generation Cadillac XT6, built on the C1XX platform, debuted in 2019 and was even officially sold in Russia — deliveries ceased after the onset of well-known geopolitical events. In the U.S., production of the Cadillac XT6 at the Spring Hill, Tennessee plant ended last year, but dealers are still selling remaining inventory. Sales of the Cadillac XT6 in the U.S. peaked in 2020, with 22,609 units sold; in 2025, sales totaled 17,060 units.
Last year, it was assumed that the XT6 would have no direct successor, as Cadillac was gradually transitioning to electric vehicles and aimed to completely phase out internal combustion engine models by 2030. However, due to Donald Trump canceling federal subsidies for electric vehicle purchases in the U.S. and removing most environmental restrictions on gasoline-powered cars, Cadillac's development strategy has become outdated. In the first half of this year, Cadillac's U.S. sales dropped by 22.3% to 66,923 vehicles.
Currently, GM's management, led by CEO Mary Barra since 2014, is reassessing the development strategy for Cadillac and other corporate brands, reintroducing internal combustion engine models. This week, Cadillac Global Vice President Christian Aquilina, as quoted by Car and Driver magazine, stated that the company is preparing a new Cadillac XT6 with an internal combustion engine, though he did not disclose details or a market launch date.
The first-generation Cadillac XT6 for the Chinese market continues to be produced in Shanghai at the SAIC-GM plant, alongside the second-generation Cadillac XT5 crossover on the VSS-S platform, which has not yet reached the U.S. Under Trump, shipping Chinese-made Cadillacs to the U.S. has lost all meaning, so the U.S. will have its own new Cadillac XT5 and its own new Cadillac XT6. What platform they will use remains unknown — possibly the same VSS-S.
Among the anticipated gasoline-powered new models from Cadillac is also the second-generation Cadillac CT5 sedan on the upgraded Alpha 2 platform, which will also be used by the new Chevrolet Camaro and a new Buick sedan — these three models are set to begin production in 2027 at the Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan.
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