Cadillac reveals first retail location as it gears up for Australia

US car maker Cadillac has announced the location of its first new retail site as it ramps up towards its arrival on the Australian new-car market.

Development of the Cadillac Experience Centre is now underway in the newly-developed Rosebery Engine Yards retail and lifestyle precinct in Sydney’s inner south.

The 841-square-metre site will house five garaged parking bays, with room for seven outside, three secured undercover servicing bays, and multiple delivery bays – alongside servicing facilities.

While the Sydney site will be the marque’s first locally, another location is planned in Melbourne – as well as in Auckland across the ditch. Vehicles at each site will be sold at fixed prices, with customers elsewhere in Australia able to buy their cars online and have them delivered.

"It feels natural to bring Australia's first Cadillac Experience Centre to such a contemporary, open, and authentic space," said Jess Bala, Managing Director of GM Australia and New Zealand.

Cadillac, the luxury arm of parent company General Motors (GM), is set to launch in Australia later this year, with an electric-only line-up targeting high-end car stalwarts BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz, among others.

The first model will be the Lyriq, a large electric SUV designed to compete with the likes of the BMW iX and Audi Q8 e-tron, with prices expected to start from about $150,000 plus on-road costs.

It is expected at least two more Cadillac models are due in Australia by the end of next year, likely to be the smaller Optiq SUV and either the Vistiq or Escalade IQ large SUVs.

The Lyriq’s arrival will mark the 15 years since the last attempt to bring Cadillac to Australia fell through in 2009, after the onset of the Global Financial Crisis.