by The second quarter of 2026 proved challenging for Cadillac: brand sales fell by 19.2%. However, against this backdrop, the CT5 sedan unexpectedly shone brightly, managing to outsell several of the company’s crossovers in popularity.
Sedans challenge crossovers
Despite many automakers abandoning passenger car models, Cadillac experienced an interesting situation. Sales of the CT4 and CT5 increased, with the latter even surpassing the figures of several crossovers.
Starting with the younger model, CT4 sales in the second quarter rose by 9.4% to 1,564 units. Overall for the year, the figure increased by 17.7%, but this trend will soon end as production of the model ceased last month.
Thus, the CT5 will remain the company’s only sedan in America. And it is showing surprisingly good results: buyers purchased 4,311 such vehicles in the second quarter. This means the model outsold the Lyriq (4,208), Optiq (4,236), Vistiq (2,001), and Escalade IQ (1,771). The sedan also nearly caught up with the aging XT5, which managed to find 5,764 buyers.
Impact of discontinued models
Speaking of internal combustion engine models, Cadillac is feeling serious pressure from the discontinuation of the XT4 and XT6. These two crossovers provided 8,869 sales in the second quarter of 2025, so it’s no surprise that a new ICE vehicle, rumored to be produced in Spring Hill, Tennessee, is likely to be a new XT6.
Electric front and leadership
In the electric segment, GM called Cadillac “the leader among American luxury EVs.” The company also noted that the brand achieved its best-ever EV sales in the second quarter. While sales of the Optiq and Vistiq grew, the Lyriq fell by 16.1%, and the Escalade IQ by 2.2%.
Sales of the ICE Escalade also decreased by 5.9% to 10,999 units. More alarming is that year-to-date sales have fallen by 17.7% to 20,062 vehicles.
V-Series records and overall decline
Cadillac reported that the V-Series lineup posted its best quarter and first half ever. This is likely due to several new models, including the Optiq-V and Lyriq-V. However, the CT4-V and CT4-V Blackwing have already been discontinued.
Overall, Cadillac sales in the second quarter fell by 19.2%, and year-to-date by 22.3%. The latter figure is the worst among GM brands, although Buick is not far behind with a decline of 20.9%.
Cadillac US Sales for Q2 2026
| Model | Q2 26 | Q2 25 | Change % | YTD 26 | YTD 25 | Change % |
| CT4 | 1,564 | 1,430 | 9.4 | 3,111 | 2,644 | 17.7 |
| CT5 | 4,311 | 4,187 | 3.0 | 7,762 | 8,168 | -5.0 |
| Escalade | 10,999 | 11,692 | -5.9 | 20,062 | 24,375 | -17.7 |
| ESCALADE IQ | 1,771 | 1,810 | -2.2 | 3,203 | 3,766 | -14.9 |
| LYRIQ | 4,208 | 5,017 | -16.1 | 7,578 | 9,317 | -18.7 |
| OPTIQ | 4,236 | 3,224 | 31.4 | 7,083 | 4,940 | 43.4 |
| VISTIQ | 2,001 | 1,744 | 14.7 | 3,903 | 1,745 | 123.7 |
| XT4 | 83 | 4,010 | -97.9 | 210 | 8,785 | -97.6 |
| XT5 | 5,764 | 6,374 | -9.6 | 11,107 | 12,727 | -12.7 |
| XT6 | 888 | 4,859 | -81.7 | 2,904 | 9,637 | -69.9 |
| Total | 35,825 | 44,347 | -19.2 | 66,923 | 86,104 | -22.3 |
The overall 19.2% decline in Cadillac sales in the second quarter is an alarming signal, especially against the backdrop of success from individual models. While the CT5 and V-Series show that demand for powerful and classic sedans still exists, the brand has suffered significantly from the discontinuation of the popular XT4 and XT6 crossovers. The transition to an electric lineup is also uneven: although the Optiq and Vistiq are growing, key models like the Lyriq and Escalade IQ are losing ground. The situation demands quick decisions from Cadillac, and rumors of a new XT6 may be an attempt to stabilize its position in the ICE segment while the electric strategy begins to yield more tangible results.
