GM has poured billions of dollars into its EV development programs, and while The General is now reassessing its electrification strategy in the face of a changing regulatory environment and lower-than-expected demand for EVs, the investment has already yielded some interesting results. The Cadillac lineup is a good example. In fact, nearly half of all Cadillac sales were EVs during Q3 of the 2025 calendar year.
Looking over Cadillac sales data for Q3, electric vehicles made up roughly 40 percent of total deliveries. The quarter saw Cadillac move 46,525 units in the U.S., 18,383 of which were EVs.
Sales Results – Q3 2025 – USA – Cadillac MODELQ3 2025 / Q3 2024Q3 2025Q3 2024YTD 2025 / YTD 2024 YTD 2025YTD 2024 CT4+1.72% 1,4221,398-17.02%4,066 4,900 CT5-3.10% 4,0004,128+10.71%12,168 10,991 ESCALADE+28.95% 11,3328,788+27.56%35,707 27,992 ESCALADE IQ* 2,264**6,030 0 LYRIQ+1.18% 7,3097,224-18.17%16,626 20,318 OPTIQ* 4,886**9,826 0 VISTIQ* 3,924**5,669 0 XT4-68.36% 1,7895,655-32.60%10,574 15,688 XT5+1.62% 5,7715,679+3.67%18,498 17,844 XT6-11.84% 3,8284,342+0.58%13,465 13,387 CADILLAC TOTAL+25.02% 46,52537,214+19.36%132,629 111,120
The Lyriq remained the volume leader among Cadillac’s electric nameplates with 7,309 units sold, followed by the smaller Optiq at 4,886, the three-row Vistiq at 3,924, and the Escalade IQ at 2,264. Combined, these entries produced an 87.77-percent year-over-year increase in EV volume, further highlighting the momentum of Cadillac’s battery-electric portfolio.
Sales Numbers – Cadillac EV Models – Q3 2025 – USA MODEL Q3 25 / Q3 24 Q3 25 Q3 24 YTD 25 / YTD 24 YTD 25 YTD 24 LYRIQ +1.18% 7,309 7,224 -18.17% 16,626 20,318 OPTIQ * 4,886 * * 9,826 0 VISTIQ * 3,924 * * 5,669 0 ESCALADE IQ * 2,264 * * 6,030 0 TOTAL +154.47% 18,383 7,224 +87.77% 38,151 20,318
By contrast, Cadillac’s internal combustion lineup delivered 28,142 units in Q3. Looking at the Cadillac sales numbers, the Escalade was the sole ICE model to post any substantial gain, rising nearly 29 percent year-over-year to 11,332 units. Without the Escalade’s contribution, EVs would have outsold ICE vehicles outright in the quarter.
Other gasoline models struggled – for example, sales of the now-discontinued XT4 sales fell sharply, while the XT5 posted a marginal year-over-year increase, and the now-discontinued XT6 was down more than 11 percent. The sedan lineup was mixed, with the CT4 increasing modestly and the CT5 dipping slightly. The only ICE model to show a significant sales performance improvement was the Escalade.
Sales Numbers – Cadillac ICE Models – Q3 2025 – USA MODEL Q3 25 / Q3 24 Q3 25 Q3 24 YTD 25 / YTD 24 YTD 25 YTD 24 CT4 +1.72% 1,422 1,398 -17.02% 4,066 4,900 CT5 -3.10% 4,000 4,128 +10.71% 12,168 10,991 XT4 -68.36% 1,789 5,655 -32.60% 10,574 15,688 XT5 +1.62% 5,771 5,679 +3.67% 18,498 17,844 XT6 -11.84% 3,828 4,342 +0.58% 13,465 13,387 ESCALADE +28.95% 11,332 8,788 +27.56% 35,707 27,992 TOTAL -6.16% 28,142 29,990 +4.05% 94,478 90,802
Notably, the Optiq surpassed the discontinued XT4 among Cadillac sales for small crossovers, while the Lyriq outpaced the XT5 in compact luxury crossovers, and the Vistiq topped the XT6 in the three-row segment. The only Cadillac ICE model to outperform its EV equivalent was the Escalade.
Segment EV ICE Small crossover SUV Optiq – 4,886 XT4 – 1,789* Compact crossover SUV Lyriq – 7,309 XT5 – 5,771 Three-row crossover SUV Vistiq – 3,924 XT6 – 3,828 Full-size SUV Escalade IQ – 2,264 Escalade – 11,332 Total 18,383 22,720
Looking forward, the key question becomes this – will the future Cadillac sales numbers maintain this EV momentum in Q4 2025 and into 2026? Well, despite the figures above, it’s actually a pretty big ask, especially as the federal EV tax credit expires and overall EV demand cools industry-wide. In fact, the expiration of the federal tax credit may be the exact reason the Cadillac EV lineup did so well in Q3. At the same time, many of the ICE models in question are either now discontinued, or long in the tooth, so it remains to be seen.
In the end, only time will tell.
