Latest news with #JackieCharniga
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
GM unveils 2026 all-electric Cadillac Optiq V
GM unveils 2026 all-electric Cadillac Optiq V Show Caption Hide Caption General Motors: History, innovation, and legacy Learn about the rich history and notable innovations of General Motors, from its founding in 1908 to its leadership in electric and autonomous vehicle technology. GM will disclose pricing details, specifications and production plans later this summer for the Optiq V. GM revealed in January that Cadillac's first electric vehicle, the Lyriq, a five-passenger midsize SUV, would receive a V badge. General Motors is rolling out the 2026 Cadillac Optiq V, part of the fifth-generation V-series and second all-electric vehicle to bear the V-series badge. The new option for the compact crossover continues the company's ambitious plans to offer all-electric powertrain options on its entire Cadillac portfolio. The company said in a statement April 23 that the latest addition to its performance offerings will have 'unique package prioritizing precision, a dynamic suspension and tight steering for an exhilarating driving experience.' GM will disclose pricing details, specifications and production plans later this summer for the Optiq V. The Mexico-built 2025 Optiq's base price is $54,390. The vehicle competes with the eGenesis Electrified GV70, Mercedes-Benz EQB and Audi Q4 e-tron. Current model on sale now: 2025 Cadillac Optiq SUV EV shocks with style, features and value On the market for less than one year, the Optiq is the second-lowest selling Cadillac for GM, with sales of 1,716 in the first quarter of 2025, beating out only the Cadillac XT4, which sold 1,214 for the same period. GM revealed in January that Cadillac's first electric vehicle, the Lyriq, a five-passenger midsize SUV, would receive a V badge. The Lyriq V is priced at $79,990 to start, an amount that still qualifies for the EV tax credit. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM announces layoff of 200 auto workers, unrelated to tariffs, as it adjusts production
General Motors is laying off 200 employees effective Monday at its Factory Zero in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan to ensure production will 'align with market dynamics,' GM said Thursday. The move is not tariff-related, the company confirmed. A person familiar with production plans said that the bulk of the reductions will be in the battery pack manufacturing area, and that the company has no current plans for those jobs to return. The person insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. In case you missed it: GM car buyers most loyal in 2024; Ford wins pickup and SUV categories 'Impacted employees will be placed on a temporary layoff and may be eligible for subpay and benefits in accordance with the GM-UAW national contract,' the company statement said. The jobs are not being eliminated, but the workers will have no definite return date. Factory Zero produces the all-electric Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Sierra EV, Hummer EV SUV and pickup, and all-electric Escalade IQ. It employs roughly 4,500 workers, according to the company's site. The news comes days after GM announced it plans to ax its three-row Cadillac XT6 SUV at its Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee and to expand production of the smaller XT5 model through 2026. Planned downtime for Spring Hill will start the week of May 12, the company told employees in a memo obtained by the Free Press. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: General Motors to lay off 200 workers in move unrelated to tariffs Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cadillac shuffles SUV production to favor smaller model; adds new EV at Tennessee plant
Cadillac is ending production of the gas-powered, three-row SUV XT6 sooner than planned and will extend production of its smaller XT5 model through 2026 due to strong customer demand, according to an internal memo sent to employees of General Motors' Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee. Production of the XT6 at the Spring Hill plant will be replaced by the Cadillac Vistiq, the new all-electric six-row SUV, GM confirmed. The memo obtained by the Detroit Free Press also said Spring Hill will undergo planned downtime the week of May 12, and anyone required to work during that time would be notified by a supervisor. 'This is a testament to our team's commitment to building vehicles that our customers love and our overall manufacturing flexibility,' the memo said. In a statement emailed to the Free Press, a GM spokesperson said the company introduced six new products in less than a year that represent the future of the brand: Escalade IQ, Escalade MCM, Optiq, Vistiq, Lyriq-V and Cadillac CT5. 'We will continue to make the necessary adjustments to the portfolio to maintain growth in critical luxury segments,' the statement said. The XT6, introduced in 2020, is a three-row SUV with target demographics similar to the Escalade, meaning an annual household income of at least $200,000. The XT5 is a smaller, five-seat SUV that was slated to end production in August 2025, but that will continue into 2026, a GM spokesman confirmed. More: Cadillac and Dolby team up to make new EVs recording studios on wheels More: Wayne State lands $50 million gift for engineering school Opened in 1990, the Spring Hill plant is 11 million square feet and rests on 2,100 acres — enough space to produce both electric vehicles and internal combustion-powered cars. The all-electric Cadillac Lyriq is also produced at Spring Hill. Both vehicles contain three rows but have a large price difference. The XT6 starts at around $52,590, while the Vistiq starts at $78,790, including a $1,395 destination charge. Cadillac is continuing its plan to convert XT6 buyers to the Vistiq, but not all dealers are happy with the shift. A Cadillac dealer told the Free Press that he was concerned about the change, particularly because demand for electric vehicles in his market is not catching up to internal combustion. The average lease payment for the XT6 is about $600, the dealer said, compared with about $1,100 to $1,200 for the Vistiq. While the brand courts a luxury buyer, the competitive nature of the segment makes a price increase of nearly $500 per month harder to swallow. The dealer, who is not authorized to disclose product plans but agreed to speak anonymously to protect his relationship with GM, said he is concerned that his XT6 customers may defect to another brand. 'People still feel more comfortable with gas-powered cars,' he said. 'I do believe it's going to hurt us.' Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@ This story has been updated to correct the number of seat rows in the XT6. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cadillac ends production of XT6
USA Today
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
2025 Chevy Blazer will be first EV pace car at Daytona 500
The Blazer EV SS can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and boasts 615 horsepower. Chevrolet will also have the Corvette Stingray pacing the Xfinity Series and the Silverado RST pacing the Craftsman Truck series race. The 2025 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS will be the first-ever electric vehicle to pace the field in the Daytona 500, General Motors said Monday. A pace vehicle leads the field of cars leading up to the green flag to start the race, but does not participate in the race. Pace vehicles also limit speeds for racing vehicles during accidents or track disruptions. GM's first-ever all-electric supersport vehicle will set the pace for racers at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday for the 67th Daytona 500. The all-electric Blazer is the quickest supersport ever for Chevrolet, reaching 60 mph from zero in 3.4 seconds. The Blazer EV SS — which is a production vehicle without performance upgrades — produces 615 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque in its performance mode the company calls 'wide open watts.' 'Chevrolet has a long history with racing — it's in our DNA — and the Blazer EV SS is a testament to that,' Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet, said in a news release. 'We're excited for customers to watch the Blazer EV SS — the quickest SS we've ever produced — pace such an iconic race this weekend.' Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Chevrolet has two more vehicles on display at Daytona: The Corvette Stingray will be the pace car for the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300 on Saturday, while the Chevrolet Silverado RST will be the pace vehicle for the Craftsman Truck series race on Friday. Jackie Charniga covers General Motors for the Free Press. Reach her at jcharniga@
