According to foreign media reports, Cadillac Global Vice President John Roth revealed in an interview that the Cadillac CT4 will officially cease overseas production in June 2026, and the Cadillac CT5 will also stop production by the end of next year. This means the current generation of the CT4 and CT5 will end with the 2026 models. However, Cadillac officials confirmed that a successor to the CT5 is in development. It will still use a gasoline engine and will be produced at General Motors’ Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan. The successor is expected to debut first in the United States and Canada. It remains unclear whether it will retain the “CT5” name or the traditional sedan body style.
At the 2012 North American International Auto Show, Cadillac officially unveiled the Cadillac ATS, built on GM’s first-generation Alpha (A1XX) platform, becoming the brand’s entry-level sedan. In November 2013, the ATS was introduced to the Chinese market as an import, equipped with a 2.0T engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, with prices ranging from 308,000 to 438,000 yuan. In 2014, the domestically produced Cadillac ATS-L was launched by SAIC-GM. With Cadillac’s brand strength, strong product performance, and competitive pricing, the ATS-L became popular among young consumers for its value. In 2019, the ATS-L was discontinued due to the implementation of China’s National VI emission standards, replaced by the Cadillac CT4.
The CT4, launched in April 2020 at a price range of 239,700 to 259,700 yuan, served as the successor to the standard-wheelbase ATS and became Cadillac’s new entry-level model. However, amid intense competition in the luxury sedan market, CT4 sales declined steadily. It has since been discontinued in China, with the final model year being 2023. Overseas, the discontinuation of sedans has become common, making CT4’s phaseout unsurprising.
The Cadillac CT5, which succeeded the long-wheelbase ATS-L and effectively replaced the overseas CTS, was officially launched in November 2019, priced between 279,700 and 339,700 yuan. In March this year, the new CT5 debuted with an official price range of 299,900 to 345,900 yuan (limited-time “one-price” offers ranged from 215,900 to 265,900 yuan). It is powered by a 2.0T turbocharged engine producing 237 horsepower and 350 Nm of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Data shows that in the first three quarters of 2025, the CT5 achieved cumulative sales of 30,761 units, making it Cadillac’s best-selling model. Whether this model will also be discontinued in the Chinese market remains uncertain.
In recent years, Cadillac has actively pursued electrification, launching several all-electric models such as the LYRIQ and OPTIQ. However, market response has been lukewarm. As a result, Cadillac recently announced plans to introduce the new XT5 SUV to the U.S. market. This move highlights Cadillac’s adaptation to shifting consumer preferences—SUVs are increasingly favored by buyers. The decision to discontinue the CT4 and CT5 underscores this trend. Furthermore, since the CT5’s successor will retain a gasoline engine, it indicates Cadillac’s continued focus on internal combustion models, reflecting that overseas consumers are still hesitant to fully embrace electric vehicles.
