Cadillac CT6 Production Still Undecided: Exclusive

Late last year, we reported that the Cadillac CT6 would be discontinued for the North American market right at the end of the 2019 model year. We were shocked and dismayed by the decision, which Cadillac originally confirmed was related to the closure of the Detroit-Hamtramck production facility in Michigan, where the CT6 is assembled for North America. At the time, we thought it possible that Cadillac would move CT6 production to the Lansing Grand River plant, which is located less than 100 miles from the Hamtramck plant and is the same facility where the CT5 and CT4 will be produced, and which produced the ATS and CTS before them. However, the final decision sounded like outright discontinuation of the Cadillac CT6 for North America. Cue the waterworks.

That all changed a few weeks later, the luxury automaker walked back on previous statements by saying the CT6 was never part of restructuring efforts by Cadillac’s parent company, General Motors, and that the model would not be getting discontinued. What’s more, then-new Cadillac president Steve Carlisle stated the company “never said” the CT6 would hit the chopping block, and that the large four-door was considered a critical showcase for Caddy’s high-tech offerings, including the Super Cruise semi-autonomous drive system and the new Blackwing V8 engine.

However, that still left the issue of where Cadillac CT6 production would take place following the closure of the Detroit-Hamtramck facility. Really, only two options are possible at this point: either move production to another plant in North America, or import the CT6 from China.

As such, Cadillac Society asked the automaker directly about its plans for the CT6 in North America.

In response, Cadillac representative, Stefan Cross, told us the following: “We have CT6 production scheduled at Detroit-Hamtramck that will keep vehicles available through January 2020. We have nothing additional to announce at this time.”

It certainly sounds like the decision is still very much up in the air at this point. But with Cadillac parent, General Motors, entering negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) this week, it’s highly likely that Detroit-Hamtramck and CT6 production will be used as a negotiation tactic to secure concessions from the United Auto Workers union (UAW).

The UAW’s current contract with GM expires in September, so where and how the CT6 is produced for North America will undoubtedly be on the table going forward. Both GM and the UAW would prefer North American units of the CT6 to remain produced in the U.S., but the automaker can always fall back to importing the sedan from China if the UAW doesn’t play ball.

We’ll have our ears to the ground as this story develops. The good news is that it sounds like the Cadillac CT6 isn’t going away, but we’ve still got our fingers crossed for production to remain stateside.

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