The automotive industry is shaken as the Cadillac XT4, a small luxury crossover, faces the threat of discontinuation. General Motors has officially announced that production will stop at the Fairfax assembly plant in January 2025. This decision is driven by the need to prepare the factory for the next generation of Bolt models. Initially, the plan was to halt production temporarily, but now GM has decided to eliminate the XT4 entirely.
Since its launch in 2019, the XT4 has served as Cadillac's smallest and most affordable gasoline crossover, boasting competitive sales. However, by September 2023, sales had dropped by 11.9%, with only 15,688 units sold. Nevertheless, this figure is still comparable to the combined sales of the CT4 and CT5 sedans. Notably, the XT4 received several significant updates for 2024, the most prominent being its large 33-inch display.
While this vehicle, considered the luxury version of the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, will no longer be sold in the U.S., it may continue to thrive in the Chinese market. The joint venture between SAIC and GM will manufacture the XT4 in a Shanghai plant for the local market, where a similarly sized GT4 model with a more coupe-like design is also available.
Meanwhile, at the Fairfax assembly plant, GM has begun laying off workers as the production of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan comes to an end this month. However, the company is still investing $391 million to retool the factory for the all-new Bolt, which will transition to a dedicated electric vehicle platform previously known as Ultium. This is the same facility where several now-discontinued GM brands were once produced, such as the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and Saturn Aura.
