Cadillac's model offensive is finally bearing fruit. Automotive News is reporting that Cadillac is on shaping up to deliver its first US retail sales gain since 2013. Cadillac President Steve Carlisle also expects the American automaker to set its second-consecutive global sales record. Part of Cadillac's current upward trend is due to being in the largest automotive market in the world, China, but sales have also been picking up in the US.

US sales declined 12 percent in the first quarter of 2019 but rose 15 percent in the third quarter following the XT5's refresh and the launch of the new Cadillac XT6. According to Carlisle, year-to-date retail sales are up 2.4 percent. "Now's the time to start putting points on the board. We've put ourselves in a much better position having built out our crossover portfolio and renewing our sedan portfolio," he says.

To our minds, part of the current success is in how Cadillac is starting to rediscover itself as a brand. Moving forward, Cadillac is planning to drop alphanumeric names and reintroduce real names for its vehicles as well as push forward with an electrification program.

"We're entering the decade as an internal-combustion-engine brand," Carlisle said. "We'll exit the decade as a battery-electric brand. It's the end of the ICE age for Cadillac."

Cadillac is spearheading GM's push into electrification, but that won't be an immediate transition. Its current new vehicles will go through a refresh in a few years before they transition onto EV architecture. Carlisle also suggested that the Cadillac Escalade name won't be going away once its flagship SUV moves to become battery powered. In fact, Carlisle expects all Cadillacs to be battery powered by 2030.