2014 Cadillac ELR EREV Priced At $76,000

October 16th, 2013 by Important Media Cross-Post

Originally published on Gas2.
By Christopher DeMorro.

When the Chevy Volt launched with a $39,995 sticker price, critics shouted down the plug-in hybrid as too expensive. Since then GM has slashed the price of the Volt by $5,000, which I had hoped meant the Volt-based Cadillac ELR would be priced in the $50,000 to $60,000 range. But nope, the starting price of the Cadillac ELR is a ridiculous $75,995.

That is more than the Tesla Model S, which GM’s CEO wants to Cadillac eventually to compete with. It seems quite ballsy of GM to more than double the price of the Volt, without really differentiating it besides adding some additional technology and luxury features. Is there really $40,000 worth of extras in the ELR? I seriously doubt it. The MSRP is $75,000, not including a $995 destination fee or any options. Ugh.

I understand that GM basically lost money on every Volt it built, and it’s built a fair number of Volts now. But there is a huge, unfilled gap for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in the $40,000 to $60,000 price range. The BMW i3 is the only other competitor in this price range that could compare to the ELR, and it would have really opened the Cadillac up to a lot more buyers.

It’s a real shame, because the Cadillac ELR is a great-looking car with an awesome drivetrain, but I just can’t see the justification of the pricing.

Source: GM

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Tags: Cadillac ELR, Cadillac ELR EREV, Chevy Volt, GM

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Important Media Cross-Post -- CleanTechnica is one of 18 blogs in the Important Media blog network. With a bit of overlap in coverage, we sometimes repost some of the great content published by our sister sites.

MieScatter

“I understand that GM basically lost money on every Volt it built”
According to Reuters:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/uk-generalmotors-autos-volt-idUKBRE88904R20120910

Manufacturing cost is estimated between $20-32k. At a sticker price of $35k, they make between $3k and $15k on every sale. Should be enough to start paying off the R&D and marketing investment I’d guess?
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Manufactures always “lose” money on new models if one expects immediate recovery of R&D costs. Proper accounting calls for spreading those costs over all units produced during the course of the run.
  
  The Volt was developed for an amazingly low amount of money for such a revolutionary vehicle, about $1 billion. The Ford Edsel cost $2 billion in current dollars and we know how well that car paid for its R&D costs.
http://electrobatics.wordpress.com/ arne-nl

“I understand that GM basically lost money on every Volt it built”

Source please? Are you sure you’re not swallowing the misinformation from GM/Volt/EV haters club?
Jouni Valkonen

It seems that big automanufacturers does indeed have serious troubles to match Model S.

However Nissan may try something if it manages to bring new LEAF on markets early 2014. 48 kWh LEAF could fit well into the 40k–50k segment and kill BMW i3.

“Nissan Tests 48-kWh LEAF at ECOseries”
http://insideevs.com/nissan-tests-48-kwh-leaf-at-ecoseries/
J_JamesM

“On May 21, 1981, one of the biggest “You’ve got to be kidding me!” moves in automotive history was made when General Motors’ Cadillac Division rolled out the Cimarron to an unenthusiastic, not-so gullible press corps and public. Essentially a rebodied Chevrolet Cavalier, even today the Cimarron evinces grimaces from Cadillac faithful.”

“The Cimarron was virtually identical to GM’s other J cars, but its Planet Bizarro pricing was roughly TWICE that of any of the other “J” cars that had the same equipment.”

“The car eventually became such a standard of the world for what not to do that, according to Car and Driver, Cadillac Product Director John Howell had a picture of the Cimarron on a wall that said, “Lest we forget.”

– Car Lust blog

And it would seem as if Cadillac HAS forgotten. The Cimarron was a catastrophe that set back the brand name for decades. Even worse, at least the Cavalier and Cimarron were largely identical; the ELR has nowhere near the practicality of the Volt and little in the way of performance improvements to show for it.