In a candid discussion on the InsideEVs Plugged-In podcast, Reuss acknowledged that the luxury sedan should not have been taken out of production, highlighting regrets within the company about the decision. The CT6, which was discontinued in the U.S. in 2020, continues to be produced in China, where a second generation debuted in 2023.
Reuss noted that scrapping the CT6 meant losing a valuable flagship powered by the highly praised Blackwing V8 engine. The sedan was lauded for advanced tech features such as the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system and high-performance variants like the CT6-V, which packed up to 550 horsepower.
The discontinuation was driven partly by GM's shift toward electric vehicles and restructuring to focus on SUVs and trucks, including transforming the Detroit-Hamtramck plant into Factory Zero for EV production. However, with some electric models underperforming sales expectations, Reuss reflected that more careful decision-making about legacy models like the CT6 could have benefited Cadillac's brand and sales.
Despite killing the CT6 in the U.S., GM plans to keep Cadillac's flagship spirit alive through the fully electric Celestiq, although that model is significantly more expensive and exclusive. Meanwhile, a combustion engine version of the next-generation CT5 is in development, signaling a partial reversal of Cadillac's earlier all-electric ambitions.
Reuss also mentioned other past decisions he regrets, including the cancellation of the Chevy Bolt hatchback and even, historically, the pioneering EV1. His openness about these missteps marks a rare moment of transparency from GM's leadership and signals a possible reconsideration of balancing electric innovation with the continuation of strong combustion models that have defined the brand.
GM’s top brass now sees the CT6 as a missed opportunity, a high-end sedan that could have bolstered Cadillac's competitiveness amid the industry's EV transformation. The hope remains that future product strategies will better blend innovation with heritage to reclaim Cadillac's place as a true luxury leader.
[Sources: InsideEVs Podcast Oct 2025, GM official statements, automotive news coverage]