Cadillac, Nissan, Tesla Launch New Electric Vehicles
Cadillac ELR electric vehicle
DETROIT—General Motors, Nissan, and Tesla all introduced new electric vehicles at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.
On Tuesday, GM, the nation’s largest automaker, unveiled the Cadillac ELR, a luxury version of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and said it would be offered for sale later this year.
Nissan, in turn, announced a less expensive Leaf, trimming the price by 18%.
Also on Tuesday, Tesla premiered its Model X SUV, an electric vehicle that can travel almost 300 miles (483 kilometers) on a single charge. The Tesla Model X will go on sale in 2014.
Cadillac is aiming the ELR at luxury car buyers who would not consider the Chevrolet Volt, a model that has had sales numbers far below GM’s expectations. Tesla, which has been selling its Model S sedan, also an electric vehicle, since 2012, has a base price of roughly $60,000 and could cost as much as $90,000 fully optioned out. Cadillac has not yet released pricing for the ELR but the Chevrolet Volt starts at $39,145 and GM’s luxury electric vehicle is expected to command a significantly higher price.
