This month we have only one new model landing, this time coming from a foreign brand and debuting its career in China, something that speaks volumes on the importance of this market.
Cadillac CT6 PHEV - A return to what Cadillac was once known for, before the bling-bling Escalade, the CT6 is a massive rear-wheel-drive barge full-size sedan, and a handsome one at that. The PHEV version is built in Shanghai and has a similar drive unit to the successful Chevrolet Volt, but with a more powerful gas engine, with total output reaching 449 hp, allowing it to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 5.6 seconds, while claimed all-electric range is 60 kms, thanks to a 18.4 kWh battery, an important plus over the competing German PHEV's, which have half the range and make the big American sedan a usable car in EV-mode.
So, how will it translate in sales? Hard to say really, it will sell better than their German counterparts, as it is locally build, allowing it to escape the steep import tariffs and have a competitive price, so 100 units/month is a minimum level, but will it be able to reach Tesla-levels, say 700 units/month?
While possible, i don't believe Cadillac being committed to it, the regular ICE CT6 is selling some 600 units/month in China, so it would already be positive if the PHEV version reached some 300 units/month.
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