De Nysschen Tells Cadillac Dealers They Will Be Selling Less But More Expensive Cars

Cadillac dealers in recent years have trekked to annual meetings with the factory to hear an ever-changing cast of executives assure them of a pending boom in sales.

They heard the same thing at last week's dealer gathering in Las Vegas from Johan de Nysschen. Cadillac's new global chief opened his remarks with the announcement of a buy-one-get-one-free sale on 2014 sedans.

The line drew a big laugh among the hundreds of dealers who were there. And it acknowledged a pressing concern among many Cadillac retailers. Yes, they wanted to hear de Nysschen's long-term vision to bring Cadillac back to luxury prestige, in part by holding a firm line on pricing and production. That's a game-changer for dealers. But many also are seeking short-term help from General Motors to clear dealership lots choked with unsold ATS, CTS and XTS sedans.

MDarringer - 9/29/2014 11:45:57 AM

+3 Boost

Taking Cadillac upmarket and losing market share is moronic. The better plan would be to match Mercedes trim levels for 15% less, put out sweet leases, get people into Cadillacs, treat them well, and EARN their repeat business.

No one will want a $100K CT6. An $85K Elmiraj would have been a game changer.

Nysschen is an idiot.

Sciros - 9/29/2014 2:29:45 PM

+6 Boost

He's 100% right. They will be more expensive and they will sell less of them.

Just like the ELR.

This guy is a genius. My dog can do better.

Vette71 - 9/29/2014 3:07:06 PM

+3 Boost

The demise of Cadillac is at hand. Sad. Just when they had things headed in a better direction, but yes they still had things to do. He is an idiot.

chewy - 9/29/2014 6:46:55 PM

+2 Boost

What do you want him to do? An immediate 20% discount on ATS/CTS? The current product lineup and the next few years are out of his control. Supposedly Cadillac is already doing two "XTS" crossovers for volume in the near future. Cadillac already has double the incentives of the Germans. I suppose you can drop the price 3k but that's just shifting around and you aren't going to eliminate the ingrained discounts.

randy3023 - 9/29/2014 3:30:12 PM

+2 Boost

Cadillac dealers sold 774 ELRs and are apparently sitting on roughly 200 in their lots.

Altogether, GM's Cadillac division and Cadillac dealers have LOST tens of millions on this car.

They're off to a great start!

chewy - 9/29/2014 5:33:48 PM

+1 Boost

The entire plan of moving the CTS up a bit to match the A6/5/E and introducing the ATS was not one that was going to be easy to execture so it's not De Nysschen's fault nor is the ELR. It is his mess to clean up though. The LTS/CT6 isn't his design either and nothing that he can do about its engines/engineering or price point but his job to introduce properly. It's a full plate for sure.

JDMUSMuscle - 9/29/2014 6:53:23 PM

+1 Boost

This guy is obviously a spy of the German elites of the automotive industry.

I guess he is trying to make Cadillac a "Rolls-Royce" competitor? With ultra mediocre lineup? That has absolutely no public recognition whatsoever?

This is great. And GM is a dumbass to even hire this guy.

dwagent - 9/30/2014 4:15:02 AM

0 Boost

I hate to be "THAT guy", but...*FEWER*.

"De Nysschen Tells Cadillac Dealers They Will Be Selling *FEWER* But More Expensive Cars".

Benzes1 - 9/30/2014 1:08:20 PM

+1 Boost

I really can't wait to see how long GM is going to go along with this. They don't know the concept of selling less cars for more money. They prefer selling more for less money. I give it less than a year before he is gone.

carsnyc - 9/30/2014 1:34:26 PM

+1 Boost

Right, and then they'll move back to Detroit, and then they'll use the flag and patriotism to sell cars, and then they will have lost another 5-10 years of some momentum.

Just when you thought that it couldn't get worse than Lincoln, look what's happening to Cadillac.

Sad to say the least!