CADILLAC once again reinforced its position as one of the fastest growing luxury automotive brands in the Middle East after registering year-over-year sales growth of 24 percent in the first half of 2012. The strong sales result outpaced the average growth rate for the luxury automotive industry, and ensured Cadillac registered its best first half sales result in the region since 2008. The robust sales performance was driven by the CTS sedan, which increased sales by 47 percent, the SRX crossover (up 40 percent), and the region's most popular full-size luxury SUV, the Escalade (up 17 percent). During the first six months of 2012, Cadillac experienced a 28 percent sales uplift in its two largest markets in the region - Saudi Arabia and the UAE. There was also strong growth in Bahrain (up 29 percent), Lebanon (up 18 percent), Qatar (up 16 percent), Kuwait (up 10 percent) and a fivefold increase in sales in Oman. Cadillac is in the midst of a bold and long-term mission to reclaim its historical position as the leading luxury brand across the globe and as the "standard of the world". This includes the launch of two new vehicles in the Middle East during the second half of 2012: the all-new and highly anticipated 2013 Cadillac XTS and Cadillac ATS luxury sedans. Cadillac is also introducing CUE, the brand's new design and technical breakthrough for intuitive infotainment, navigation and communication commands that use capacitive touch, the technology used by many of today's best tablets and smart phones. "We are constantly improving and elevating the Cadillac product line-up and believe that the new XTS and ATS will capture the attention and imagination of aspirational customers across the region," said Nadim Ghrayeb, Cadillac Regional Brand Manager for the Middle East. "Working closely with our dealers, we have also heightened the customer ownership experience with the Cadillac Premium Care Program. It encompasses wide-ranging benefits for all owners and forms part of Cadillac's mission to become the leading luxury automotive brand." – SG
