Cadillac ELR May Not Be Long For This World

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Within the next few months, the 2016 Chevrolet Volt will enter showrooms on a new platform, cutting ties to the Delta II platform underpinning both the first-gen Volt and the Cadillac ELR. The move won’t matter ultimately, as the premium PHEV may not be long for this world as it is.

AutoGuide reports Cadillac chief engineer Dave Leone proclaimed it too early to state whether the ELR will see a second generation or not, proclaiming the brand was in “the business of making money,” and that management would make their decision when the time came to do so.

As of this writing, inventory is at 194 days, consisting of 1,400 unsold units. Meanwhile, only 578 copies of the $75,995 PHEV actually left the showroom through the end of July 2014 through the kindness of discounts and other incentives.

If cut, the ELR would join the Opel Ampera, whose own existence drew to a close after only 332 units were sold through the first five months of this year. This is likely due to the fact that few want to pay the equivalent of $51,000 USD for a Volt with a new face, or, in the case of the ELR, $76,000 for a Volt with a new body.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Stingray65 Stingray65 on Aug 25, 2014

    GM made a big mistake by not making the Volt a Cadillac. They could have put a few bucks into upgrading the Volt's interior, chipped the Volt's motors to improve the acceleration, and charged $50,000 for it in sedan or coupe form. Virtually no one was going to pay $40,000 for a Chevy economy car, but a few more might pay 50 for a Cadillac eco-car that looked and drove decently. GM might even have a made a small profit on a Caddy Volt, which they have never done on the Chevy Volt and can never dream about with the ELR.

  • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Aug 25, 2014

    This is hilarious. GM is offering $14,000 USD Supplier Bonus Cash for ELR in August for GM Suppliers looking to purchase one. My company happens to be a GM supplier and wandered into the supplier site... SUPPLIER PURCHASE BONUS CASH OFFERS2 $14,000 – 2014 Cadillac ELR $2,000 – 2014 Cadillac CTS Sedan $1,500 – 2014 Cadillac ATS $1,500 – 2014 Cadillac XTS XTS, btw: MSRP of XTS as shown4 $ 45,525.00 Supplier Discount Price5 $ 43,272.00 Supplier Purchase Bonus Cash2 – $ 1,500.00 Price You Pay4 $ 41,772.00 Your Discount $ 3,753.00 So $42K+dest for that... or $13-16K in five years. Here's how MY13 FWD is fairing barely two model years old: 08/14/14 NORTHSTR Regular $34,500 9,627 Above BLACK 6G A Yes 08/21/14 PHOENIX Regular $31,400 16,496 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes 08/21/14 ARENA IL $30,500 28,478 Avg TAN 6G A Yes 08/07/14 ARENA IL $29,500 29,016 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes Oddly, XTS spanks MY13 CTS "Luxury" RWD: 08/21/14 TX HOBBY Regular $23,900 10,926 Avg GOLD 6G A Yes 08/05/14 FT LAUD Regular $24,900 13,547 Above Red 6G A Yes 08/20/14 NASHVILL Regular $23,500 13,816 Avg BEIGE 6G A Yes 08/14/14 TX HOBBY Regular $22,750 20,475 Avg BLACK 6G A Yes 08/21/14 TX HOBBY Lease $22,600 22,083 Avg GREEN 6G P Yes Then there's MY14 ELR: 07/11/14 PA Regular $55,000 347 Avg BLACK 4H A No 08/08/14 PA Regular $51,000 151 Avg BLACK EL A No Less than 500 miles and they do low to mid 50s.

  • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Aug 25, 2014

    If you like the coupe looks of it, just drop a small block V8 in it and call it the SLR.

    • See 2 previous
    • 28-Cars-Later 28-Cars-Later on Aug 26, 2014

      @turboprius Being it came out in MY04, it is in fact a mid-2000s Cadillac coupe.

  • 05lgt 05lgt on Aug 26, 2014

    Someone please explain how GM made money (reduced tax burden, whatever) by making this car they clearly never intended to sell more than a few of. The marketing was more of a knife than a pat on the back. They never offered a value proposition for purchasing one over a Volt. The Volt had established that their pricing was not going to be supported. They released this at 20k+ over a Volt. The discounting was so steep and immediate that they can't be accused of trying to set perceived value high in an unsettled market. Even for GM, this doesn't look accidental. It's infanticide. Some way, some how, (they at least think) it's a money game, and the ELR had to loose for it to work. I just don't know where they are making the money.

    • DenverMike DenverMike on Aug 26, 2014

      "I just don't know where they are making the money." Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe, Yukon, Denali, Escalade, Suburban, Traverse, Equinox, Acadia, SRX, Enclave, Encore...

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