Tag Archives: UK

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Cadillac to Launch in UK as GM Expands European EV Line-Up

General Motors is gearing up for a major return to the UK market, with Cadillac set to spearhead a broader push into Europe. The move marks a pivotal step in the company’s electric vehicle strategy, with a multi-model launch planned and more brands to follow.

Speaking exclusively to Autocar at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, GM Europe CEO Pere Brugal confirmed that right-hand-drive versions of the all-electric Cadillac Lyriq are in final testing stages in Ireland. The Lyriq, priced from €79,000 (£68,000), has so far been limited to a handful of continental markets including Germany, France, Sweden and Switzerland. Now, the UK is next in line.

“We have a plan for these to come,” Brugal said. “It is one of the markets we’re focusing on right now. It’s coming close.”

But Cadillac won’t arrive alone. GM aims to launch with a two-model portfolio, signalling a more serious commitment than a one-off release. While Brugal stopped short of naming the second vehicle, the upcoming Optiq—another premium electric SUV—appears to be the most likely candidate. Due for global release in early 2026, the Optiq’s timing would align well with a UK rollout.

Beyond the Lyriq and Optiq, GM has broader ambitions. Brugal hinted at the potential arrival of Chevrolet models such as the Blazer EV and Equinox EV, depending on regulatory harmonisation between the US and Europe. Emission standards and safety regulations currently pose hurdles for certain American models entering the European market.

“If the regulations between the US and Europe harmonise, it will make our life easier,” Brugal said. “That will increase the range of options for customers.”

Looking further ahead, Brugal did not rule out the possibility of a Europe-specific GM model. With GM already tailoring cars for regional needs in South America and Asia, the logic could soon extend to European buyers.

“In the future, can it be that we create a car just for Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan or Korea? Maybe it can be,” he said.

GM’s new European division, based in Zurich, was established in 2021 as a clean-slate operation to focus exclusively on electric mobility. While progress has been measured—Cadillac’s current offering is still limited—the strategy is gaining momentum, especially in the UK.

Notably, GM is opting for a split retail strategy. Corvette, already available in the UK in Stingray, E-Ray and ZR1 variants, will continue to be sold through traditional dealers such as Arnold Clark. But Cadillac will take a different route, relying on an agency-based, direct-to-consumer (D2C) model in major markets.

“We don’t envisage a future where we’re going to be mixing Cadillac with Corvette,” Brugal explained. “Corvette has its own DNA, and it’s going to be staying as a standalone brand.”

Cadillac’s European presence will be bolstered by pop-up “experience stores” and an online-first retail approach designed to immerse buyers in the brand and its electric identity. Smaller markets like Ireland and Norway will follow a traditional distribution model, while larger territories—including the UK—will lead with D2C.

“Our D2C is focused on creating impact and explaining who we are as a brand,” Brugal said. “It’s about making sure that people understand Cadillac and explore the car.”

With right-hand-drive Lyriqs nearly ready and more models in the pipeline, GM’s long-anticipated European return is finally accelerating. For UK buyers, that means the wait for a truly American luxury EV alternative is almost over.

Source: Autocar

News

GWM Strikes First as UK EV Grant Sparks Industry Uncertainty

The UK government’s long-awaited Electric Car Grant has finally arrived, pledging £650 million ($876 million) in funding to accelerate electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The initiative promises consumer grants of £1,500 ($2,000) or £3,750 ($5,000) for eligible EVs, aimed at bringing greener transport within reach of the average British driver. But with no official list of qualifying models released yet, uncertainty is already rippling through the automotive sector.

One brand not content to wait in limbo is Great Wall Motor (GWM). The Chinese manufacturer—known for its increasingly stylish and competitively priced EVs—has launched its own aggressive discount strategy to win over British buyers. Effective immediately, all versions of the GWM Ora 03 are eligible for a £3,750 “Green Grant,” mirroring the top tier of the government scheme.

The timing is no coincidence. GWM’s move follows similar action from rival Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, which announced an identical discount for its compact T03 city car. But GWM’s Ora 03, already praised for its strong value proposition, now emerges as one of the most affordable and capable EVs on sale in the UK.

Prices for the Ora 03 now start at just £21,245 ($33,700). For that, buyers get a 48 kWh battery and a claimed 193 miles (310 km) of range. In a segment where price and range are everything, that’s a compelling package. The discount also puts the Ora 03 in direct competition with the likes of the Hyundai Inster and upcoming Renault 5—two European favorites now facing an aggressive Chinese challenger.

The mid-range 03 Pro has seen its price cut from £28,995 ($34,000). It steps up to a 63 kWh battery with an impressive 260 miles (418 km) of range. At the top of the range sits the 03 GT, now priced at £29,245 (~$39,400). It features the same powertrain as the Pro but adds luxury touches such as massaging and ventilated front seats, an electric sunroof, and even launch control—features unheard of at this price point just a few years ago.

While GWM’s price cuts are sure to tempt many budget-conscious EV buyers, their eligibility for the government grant remains uncertain. According to Autocar, criteria for inclusion in the scheme go beyond price and emissions. Manufacturers must be part of the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), committing to strict carbon reduction targets. Furthermore, eligibility may depend on the carbon intensity of the vehicle’s production process—including where the car and its batteries are manufactured.

This could spell trouble for many Chinese and other Asian-built vehicles, regardless of their affordability or performance. With the UK government favoring cleaner production chains and regional sourcing, brands like GWM could be left out—despite offering compelling products that align with the country’s broader EV adoption goals.

For now, though, GWM isn’t waiting around. With uncertainty clouding the rollout of the official EV grant program, the brand is carving its own path—and potentially reshaping the entry-level EV landscape in the UK.

Source: Reuters

News

Lotus Could Leave UK After Nearly 60 Years

The future of Lotus’s historic home in Hethel hangs in the balance as the company’s Chinese owners consider a major shift in strategy that could see production move to the United States, in a bid to navigate escalating trade tensions and stem mounting financial losses.

Sources close to the matter revealed to Autocar that a directive to wind down production at Hethel has come from top-level management in China, with a temporary halt already in effect for the factory’s sole model, the Emira, since mid-May. The decision comes amid increasing tariffs imposed by the US on Chinese-built electric vehicles (EVs), a market Lotus has identified as crucial for its future growth.

However, the closure is not yet final. Reports indicate the UK government is actively working behind the scenes to offer a support package aimed at retaining production on British soil. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds is reportedly scheduled to meet Lotus executives on Sunday, June 28, in a bid to preserve jobs and safeguard one of Britain’s most iconic automotive brands.

In a carefully worded statement posted on social media, Lotus sought to reassure stakeholders, stating: “Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations. There are no plans to close any factory.” The statement went on to emphasize the UK’s central role in the company’s operations, housing its sports car manufacturing, global design centre, motorsport activities, and engineering hub. Nonetheless, it also acknowledged that Lotus is “actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness.”

The strategic pivot comes at a turbulent time for Lotus. Since its acquisition by Chinese automotive giant Geely in 2017, the brand has undergone a sweeping transformation—one that has yet to pay off financially. Despite a £2 billion investment and the rollout of new electric models like the Eletre SUV and Emeya sedan, Lotus posted a $183 million loss in Q1 2025, with debt ballooning to $3.3 billion. Vehicle deliveries fell 42% in the same period.

Tariffs have hit hard. The Eletre, Lotus’s flagship electric SUV, has been pulled from the US market due to the country’s new 100% import tariff on China-made EVs. Sales in Europe and China have also stumbled, with deliveries of both the Eletre and Emeya down 31% year-over-year.

In response, Lotus is doubling down on “localization” strategies, with CEO Feng Qingfeng confirming that discussions are underway to relocate some production to the United States. One likely destination is Volvo’s under-utilized plant in South Carolina—another Geely-owned facility—where even the Emira could eventually be built.

Adding to the company’s troubles, recent cost-cutting measures have seen 270 workers laid off at Hethel, the closure of its newly established Clerkenwell headquarters, and the handover of its Park Lane showroom to dealership group HR Owen. The company has also postponed its planned electric sports car, citing tepid market enthusiasm.

“Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don’t really know the answer to that yet,” Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle told Autocar last month. Windle has reportedly been pushing for more models to be built in Hethel, which produced just over 5,000 Emiras last year, despite a theoretical capacity of 10,000.

Looking ahead, Lotus is repositioning its lineup to focus on hybrid performance. The company’s first plug-in hybrid—the Eletre Hyper Hybrid—is set to launch in China in early 2026, with future Lotus sports cars expected to follow the electrified path.

Despite Geely’s £100 million investment into Hethel’s modernization, including a state-of-the-art sports car facility opened in 2022, the site’s future remains uncertain. Critics within the company are not mincing words. One former senior executive described the potential closure as “a disgrace.”

For Britain’s automotive sector, losing Lotus would be more than symbolic. While small in output compared to JLR or Nissan, Lotus has been a mainstay of British engineering since Colin Chapman bought the Hethel airfield in 1966. Its loss would be a blow to the UK’s ambitions to scale car production to 1.3 million units by 2035—an ambition laid out just this week as part of a new industrial strategy.

With government negotiations ongoing and geopolitical pressures mounting, the fate of Hethel—and perhaps the soul of Lotus—now hangs in the balance.

Source: Autocar