Cadillac Executive Admits ELR Is Not The Answer To Tesla - Didn't We Already Figure That Out?

A General Motors Co. executive said Thursday he sees Tesla Motors Inc. as a “completely serious competitor in every way,” but the plug-in hybrid Cadillac ELR is not GM’s answer to Tesla cars.

Mark Reuss, GM’s head of global product development, purchasing and supply chain, said he is not sure GM has a direct answer to Tesla.

“People like to say the ELR is, but it’s really not,” said Reuss, guest speaker at WWJ Newsradio 950’s annual Dream Cruise Business Breakfast. “It’s a different car, it’s a different price point. It’s way-different technology.”

The luxury ELR coupe starts at about $76,000 and has an estimated electric range of 37 miles before a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine takes over, offering a driver total range of more than 345 miles. Tesla’s Model S sedan, which is all-electric with a range of 208 miles for the base car, starts at about $71,000. Tesla also is adding a Model X SUV next year and has said it will offer a third, cheaper vehicle in the future.

222max - 8/15/2014 11:30:12 AM

-1 Boost

The ELR was GM's attempt to recoup some of the cash it's losing on its white elephant, the Volt.

randy3023 - 8/15/2014 12:35:59 PM

-1 Boost

"it's a different price point".

Nope, they're the same price. This guy's a fucking idiot.

Sure, you *can* upgrade your $72,000 60 kWh Tesla to the 85 kWh for $20,000 — that's true. But any idiot can guess, if you can afford to drop $80,000 on a dinky, stupid little 2-door coupe like the ELR, it's pretty clear a $20,000 upgrade is not going to be a wildly different demographic for you.

RobertPaulson - 8/15/2014 2:14:02 PM

+3 Boost

The ELR was a complete misread on the luxury green segment. On top of that, a major eff-up in pricing, promotion, positioning to name just a few.

It's not a bad car, nor was it a mistake for GM to do a luxury take on the Volt, but not an effort adequately thought though.

bradbike - 8/15/2014 2:31:32 PM

+4 Boost

I'll buy one for 35k, but never understood why they thought it was worth two VOLTS.