Cadillac to start UK new car sales again

American premium brand Cadillac is planning to launch two electric cars in the UK before the end of 2024.

It will be 20 years since Cadillac last entered the UK in an ill-fated attempt to interest UK premium brand customers in V6-engined American cars and then abandoned it some six years later.

In 2004 European distributor Kroymans announced an exclusive retail agreement with Pendragon, and Cadillac's UK dealer network expanded to 12 locations before it was wound down in 2010 as UK sales stagnated and supplies of right-hand drive cars dwindled.

The latest move is part of a major European expansion for the General Motors owned car brand. It is starting in Switzerland, with a direct to consumer sales model.

It is General Motors' first step in a return to European markets since selling off the Opel and Vauxhall brands in 2017 to Stellantis.

For the UK, first to arrive will be the Cadillac Optiq (pictured above), a mid-size crossover that the brand hopes will compete with the Audi Q4 e-tron, Polestar 2 and Tesla Model Y.

The Optiq uses a dual-motor powertrain that develops 300hp. It has an 85kWh battery back, which gives an estimated range of 300 miles.

Cadillac claims the car offers segment-best interior space and promises a full suite of advanced driver aids. The car is equipped with a 33-inch digital screen.

By the end of the year, the Optiq will be joined by Cadllac's larger Lyriq (pictured below).

The Lyriq is fitted with a 102kWh battery and is expected to give a range of around 330 miles. Sales of the Lyriq have already started in some European countries, with prices starting at £70,000.

After limited uptake of BEVs in the USA the carmaker sees an opportunity for growth in Europe.