We don't know how many units of the battery-electric Cadillac Lyriq will run down production lines every year because the brand won't say. What we do know is that Cadillac has now declared two production runs sold out — that for the 2023 Debut Edition, which sold out in minutes, and the standard 2023 Lyriq that sold out in a day. Automotive News reports orders for the 2024 Lyriq opened last week, and according to the reservation page, they're still open, marking the first multi-day reservation period for the luxury EV. A $100 refundable deposit is all it takes to get on the list. Orders are expected to begin around the fall, probably not long after Cadillac announces the lineup, specs, options, and pricing for the 2024 model. Production is not scheduled until spring 2023, with deliveries planned for not long afterward.

The timeline is compacted and a touch confusing, but what's been written so far is that the the Debut Edition is still running down the conveyors at the Spring Hill, Tennessee, facility and being delivered right now. The regular 2023 Lyriq with rear-wheel drive should start reaching customers around Q3 of this year, but the standard 2023 Lyriq with AWD won't start reaching customers until early 2023. That won't be far from the time the 2024 Lyriq is anticipated to head down production lines.

Kristen Lewis, the vehicle's marketing manager, said during recent media drives, "The 2024 Lyriq will be a different vehicle, with some prices higher and some prices lower." The reservation page advertises the RWD trim as "starting at around $60,000," the AWD trim as "starting at around $64,000." It's clear Cadillac is rearranging the model specs, because those figures are slightly lower than the MSRPs for the standard 2023 model that began at $62,990 for RWD and $64,990 for AWD. The 2023 also came with either two years of unlimited public charging credits or a $1,500 rebate to cover the cost of installing a Level 2 home charging system. On the other hand, the 2024 model should welcome the addition of tech like a heads-up display, which couldn't be completed in time for the crossover's accelerated debut.

Of course, we're also not sure how much wiggle room Cadillac is giving itself with the word "around," but the brand has said it won't be jacking up the Lyriq's price any time soon. Lewis told Edmunds, "We would not publicize those [pricing] numbers if we couldn't stand by them." We'll have to see what effect that pledge has on content specs.

For the merely curious folks who want to see what it's all about, Cadillac is trying to have a demo Lyriq delivered to every U.S. dealer by the end of the year.

The Cadillac Lyriq is crucial for the brand’s future, so GM wants to get it right. The company intends to gather as much feedback as possible from the first customers before starting a broader rollout. But GM’s initiative to sign confidential agreements with early adopters has attracted NHTSA’s unwanted attention.
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General Motors quietly started a new program requiring some Cadillac Lyriq customers to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) when they bought or leased the new all-electric SUV. Selected customers were offered a $5,500 rebate if they agreed to let GM track them while using the Lyriq. They are also prohibited from talking to people outside of GM about their experience with the new Cadillac. But NHTSA is concerned that the NDAs would deter people from reporting any safety problems to the agency.

“NHTSA relies on reports from consumers as an important source of information in evaluating potential safety defects,” said NHTSA spokesperson Lucia Sanchez in an email to Detroit Free Press. “Any agreement that may prevent or dissuade consumers from reporting safety concerns to NHTSA is unacceptable.”

NHTSA is particularly concerned that other carmakers would follow GM with similar programs that prevent or discourage people from reporting safety issues with their vehicles. GM’s program is limited to about 20 selected Cadillac Lyriq customers in metro Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles. Still, it could signal a broader trend for the industry.

General Motors spokesman Dan Flores dismissed NHTSA’s concerns and said they were advised of this fact. According to him, this “small-scale Ambassador program” was created to provide early learnings for the first vehicles sold. This includes handling, performance, safety, comfort, and “any other feedback the Ambassadors wish to share as Cadillac enthusiasts.” But the NDAs do not prevent them from reporting safety issues to NHTSA.

“While the program agreement contains provisions designed to protect GM confidential and proprietary information, it is not intended to, and does not, prohibit or preclude participants from reporting any issue, safety or otherwise, to NHTSA or any other regulatory body,” said Flores in a statement emailed to Detroit Free Press.

The move to recruit customers to do initial studies on a vehicle is unprecedented in the auto industry. Usually, a new car’s first “customers” are the company’s employees. The feedback gathered during this phase is used to iron out any last issues discovered during the everyday use of the vehicle. Even though Cadillac did use employees, they wanted to extend the program to real customers to better understand their use cases.

While General Motors prepares its future flood of more affordable EVs, it's currently selling much pricier options, such as the GMC Hummer EV pickup truck and the Cadillac Lyriq SUV. The Lyriq came to market with a relatively high price tag, though it wasn't much more expensive than many rival electric crossovers, and a new entry-level trim for 2024 makes it slightly more affordable.

According to Cadillac, all 2023 Lyriq production is sold out. If you're considering the electric SUV, you'll have to consult with your local dealer about details surrounding the 2024 model, which are still slim at this point. Autoblog writes that Cadillac has an updated page for the Lyriq online, but there isn't any new information about the 2024 version, and you can't even reserve one at this time.
In December, we alerted you that the upcoming 2024 Lyriq would arrive with a base price of "around $60,000." More recently, based on details published by GM Authority, we've learned that the new entry-level "Tech" trim will start at $58,590. For comparison, the 2023 base model carried a starting price of $62,990.

As far as the 2023 model is concerned, the entry-level option was the "Luxury RWD," and it seems that for 2024, the Luxury trim's starting price remains unchanged, or at least within a few hundred dollars of the 2023 price. However, for 2024, the Luxury RWD model is now a step up from the base option, meaning the entry-level "Tech RWD" version comes with fewer features and options.

Now that Tesla lowered the prices of every EV and trim level in its lineup, rivals have a tough decision to make. You can buy the most popular electric SUV on the planet, the Tesla Model Y, for about $13,000 less than you could before the recent price cuts, and about $20,000 less if you factor in the $7,500 tax credit.

Ford already reduced the price of its Mustang Mach-E, which is one of the Model Y's top rivals, but the price cuts aren't as dramatic as Tesla's. Now it appears GM will follow suit with the Lyriq, which competes with the Model Y and Mustang Mach-E, but it's only doing so by adding one cheaper trim level and stripping the car of features. Moreover, the price drop isn't monumental.

Buyers who opt for the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq Tech RWD will not get the Driving Assist Package that was previously standard, though they can opt for it. GM Authority writes that the brand is adding adaptive headlights for the upcoming model year, but they won't be available on the entry-level model.

The less expensive 2024 Tech version also leaves out several luxury niceties, including a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, a rear camera mirror, ambient cabin lightning, the power tilt and telescoping steering wheel, and more.
As we previously reported, the Cadillac Lyriq is one of a number of electric "SUVs" that don't qualify as SUVs for the newly revamped US federal EV tax credit. This means it's not eligible for the $7,500 tax credit. GM would have to drop the price to less than $55,000, to make the crossover eligible, much like Tesla did with the Model Y. However, the Big Three automaker is currently encouraging the US Treasury to reconsider the crossover's classification.