GM introduces Cadillac Vistiq electric SUV with 300-mile range

General Motors Co. is introducing the Cadillac Vistiq, a three-row all-electric sport utility vehicle with a stated range of 300 miles, according to reports. The model will start at just under $79,000, adding another high-priced electric vehicle to Cadillac’s portfolio as automakers continue to test demand for battery-powered SUVs.

GM shares were down 0.8% in premarket trading, according to MarketWatch. The move came as investors assessed the company’s latest electric-vehicle product announcement and its place in the luxury SUV segment.

The Vistiq is positioned as a smaller counterpart to Cadillac’s Escalade, the brand’s larger and better-known SUV. One GM executive called the new vehicle a “baby Escalade,” CNBC reported, a description that signals how the company is framing the model for buyers familiar with Cadillac’s flagship utility vehicle.

The 300-mile range figure is a central commercial specification for an electric SUV. In practice, range indicates how far a vehicle is expected to travel on a full battery charge under stated testing conditions. For buyers comparing electric models, it functions much like fuel economy and tank capacity do for gasoline vehicles, shaping expectations around long-distance driving, charging frequency and daily use.

The starting price of just under $79,000 places the Vistiq in the premium end of the consumer auto market. That price point also reflects the economics of larger electric vehicles, which require substantial battery capacity to move heavier bodies while preserving range. Automakers use pricing, size and brand positioning to distinguish electric SUVs from lower-cost battery models and from established internal-combustion vehicles.

Cadillac’s use of a three-row configuration gives the Vistiq a family-oriented format while retaining the luxury positioning associated with the brand. Three-row SUVs typically compete on passenger capacity, cargo flexibility and road-trip usability, all areas where range and charging considerations are closely watched by electric-vehicle shoppers.

GM’s announcement comes through its Cadillac division, which has been used by the company as a premium channel for electric models. The Vistiq name, range and starting price give investors and consumers a clearer view of how the automaker is broadening its battery-electric offering beyond smaller vehicles and into categories traditionally led by large SUVs.

No additional specifications, delivery timing or production details were included in the reports cited by MarketWatch and CNBC.

This story draws on original reporting from MarketWatch.