Cadillac cars are made by General Motors, the American automotive company that also produces Chevrolet, GMC, and Buick vehicles.
Cadillac is known as America’s oldest luxury car brand, founded in Detroit in 1902, and has served as General Motors’ flagship premium marque for more than 120 years.
Cadillac is a division of General Motors, the publicly traded American automaker headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, operating as one of the largest automotive companies in the United States.
Knowing who makes Cadillac helps buyers understand the engineering resources, manufacturing standards, and corporate direction behind the brand as it pivots toward an all-electric future.
This article covers Cadillac’s ownership, founding history, where its vehicles are made, the current lineup, and how it compares to Lincoln, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Cadillac?
Cadillac is fully owned by General Motors Company (GM), which is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GM.
General Motors is headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, and operates brands including Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac in North America, plus Baojun and Wuling through joint ventures in China.
Within GM’s brand hierarchy, Cadillac sits at the top as the company’s luxury flagship, analogous to how Lexus sits above Toyota or Genesis above Hyundai.
When Was Cadillac Founded?
Cadillac was founded on August 22, 1902, in Detroit by Henry Leland, who named the company after Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, the French explorer who founded Detroit in 1701.
General Motors acquired Cadillac in 1909. Within GM, Cadillac established itself through precision engineering and was the first American car company to win the Dewar Trophy, an award for automotive excellence.
Cadillac pioneered many automotive firsts, including the first fully enclosed car body in 1910, the first electric starter in 1912, and the first V16 engine in an American production car in 1930.
Where Are Cadillacs Made?
Most Cadillacs are assembled in the United States. The CT4 and CT5 sedans are built at the Lansing Grand River Assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan.
The XT4, XT5, XT6, and Lyriq electric SUV are assembled at the Spring Hill Assembly plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
The Escalade and Escalade IQ electric flagship are built at the Arlington Assembly plant in Arlington, Texas. The Celestiq, Cadillac’s ultra-luxury hand-built electric sedan, is produced at the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan.
What Models Does Cadillac Currently Offer?
Cadillac’s current US lineup covers sedans, SUVs, and electric vehicles. The CT4 is a compact executive sedan and the CT5 is its larger sibling.
SUVs include the XT4 compact, XT5 midsize, and XT6 three-row. The full-size Escalade and Escalade ESV are Cadillac’s flagship SUVs, consistently among the most profitable vehicles General Motors produces.
The Lyriq is Cadillac’s mass-market electric SUV. The Celestiq is a hand-built electric sedan starting above $300,000, competing against Rolls-Royce and Bentley in the ultra-luxury segment.
Cadillac vs Lincoln vs Lexus: Who Makes Each?
All three are luxury divisions of major American or Japanese automakers. Cadillac belongs to General Motors. Lincoln belongs to Ford Motor Company. Lexus belongs to Toyota Motor Corporation.
Cadillac and Lincoln are both American brands competing in the domestic luxury space, while Lexus has long dominated luxury brand reliability rankings across all three competitors.
In terms of manufacturing, all three are primarily assembled in the United States. Cadillac’s Spring Hill, Tennessee and Arlington, Texas plants are major US job centers.
What Is Next for Cadillac?
Cadillac is positioning itself as GM’s electric luxury vanguard. The brand has announced plans to go fully electric with no new combustion-only models introduced after a certain date.
The Escalade IQ, Lyriq, and Celestiq are the first wave of Cadillac EVs. Additional electric models are expected to fill out the lineup through the decade.
GM’s Ultium battery platform underpins Cadillac’s electric strategy, giving the brand access to a flexible, scalable electric architecture shared across Chevrolet and GMC models.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Cadillac
Is Cadillac owned by GM?
Yes. Cadillac is a fully owned division of General Motors Company and has been part of GM since 1909. Cadillac has no independent shareholders or separate corporate structure.
Where is the Cadillac Escalade made?
The Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV are assembled at the Arlington Assembly plant in Arlington, Texas. The electric Escalade IQ is also produced at the Arlington facility.
Is Cadillac still an American brand?
Yes. Cadillac is an American brand founded in Detroit in 1902 and wholly owned by General Motors, an American corporation headquartered in Detroit. Most Cadillac vehicles are assembled in the United States.
What is the most expensive Cadillac?
The Cadillac Celestiq is the brand’s most expensive vehicle, a hand-built electric sedan that starts above $300,000. Each Celestiq is built to order at GM’s Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, with extensive personalization options.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.