General Motors has confirmed that the next-generation Cadillac CT5 sedan, XT5 midsize SUV, and XT6 three-row midsize SUV will all be offered with gasoline-powered versions. The announcement marks a significant change from Cadillac’s earlier plan to transition to an exclusively electric vehicle lineup by the end of the decade.
Cadillac Expands Beyond an All-Electric Strategy
GM has continued to adjust its electric vehicle strategy across its brands while increasing production of gasoline-powered engines, including V8s.
During the company’s second-quarter earnings call, CEO Mary Barra said Cadillac’s next generation of internal combustion engine vehicles will begin arriving next spring.
“Starting next spring and continuing into 2028, we will begin launching the next generation of Cadillac ICE [internal combustion engine] vehicles,” Barra said, according to CNBC.
She added that the upcoming gasoline-powered models will complement Cadillac’s existing all-electric crossover lineup and the Escalade SUV.
Cadillac XT6 Will Return
One of the biggest announcements is the return of the Cadillac XT6 as a three-row midsize SUV.
GM did not provide a specific launch date but confirmed that the XT6 will return only after the redesigned XT5 debuts in 2027.
Cadillac discontinued the XT6 following the 2025 model year, leaving buyers seeking a three-row gasoline-powered SUV with the option of moving up to the full-size Escalade or choosing the all-electric Vistiq or Escalade IQ.
Vistiq Sales Fell Short of XT6
The Vistiq was intended to replace the XT6, but the electric SUV did not match the sales performance of its predecessor.
According to GM, Cadillac sold 20,000 XT6 SUVs during the model’s final full year on the market, compared with nearly 7,900 Vistiq SUVs.
GM Reports $10.9 Billion in EV-Related Charges
During the earnings call, GM also disclosed $10.9 billion in EV-related charges recorded since the second half of 2025.
The automaker attributed those charges to slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption and U.S. regulatory changes, including eased emissions standards and the end of the federal EV tax credit.
Manufacturing Plans Shift Toward Full-Size SUVs
Barra said GM’s strategy also includes “onshoring significant manufacturing” beginning next year.
As part of that plan, the company intends to expand production of its full-size SUVs to a Michigan plant that had previously been expected to assemble electric vehicles.
GM currently manufactures its full-size SUV lineup—including the Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon, and GMC Yukon XL—exclusively at the Arlington Assembly plant in Texas.
The latest announcements reflect GM’s revised product and manufacturing strategy, which now combines continued investment in electric vehicles with the introduction of new gasoline-powered Cadillac models.
