Where Are Cadillac Escalades Made? (Solved & Explained)

Cadillac Escalades consistently rank highly within the full-size luxury SUV category.

The large size, technology, comfortable interior, and smooth handling helps place this SUV near the top of the Luxury Sport Utility food chain.

In addition, the newly redesigned Cadillac Escalade comes with a host of driver assistance features built to enhance the safety and drivability of the luxury SUV.

Curious about where the Cadillac Escalade was made? Read on to learn more.

Where Are Cadillac Escalades Being Made?

Cadillac Escalades are made in Arlington, Texas U.S.A at the Arlington Assembly which is owned by General Motors. Previous models have also been built in Mexico, Belarus and Russia. Production for Cadillac Escalades began in 1998 and continues to the present year.

Are Escalades for the U.S. Market Produced in the U.S.?

Cadillac Escalades for the U.S. market are produced in the U.S.

Prior renditions of the SUV have been assembled in various countries at different times. However, the current Escalade offering is built at the Arlington Assembly in Arlington, Texas.

Arlington Assembly:

  • Opened in 1954
  • Is 5.75 million square feet on 250 acres
  • Employs 5332 people
  • 1200 vehicles produced daily

Are They Being Assembled in the U.S.?

The short answer is yes. The current, fifth-generation Cadillac Escalades are being produced in Arlington Texas. The plant responsible for manufacturing Cadillac Escalades in Texas is Arlington Assembly.

Arlington Assembly has been producing various Cadillac models since 1954.

Over the years, many GM models have been produced at the 250-acre plant.

Escalade Manufacturing Location Based On Model Year

Escalades haven’t always been built exclusively in Arlington, the table below outlines various location where Escalades have been manufactured.

GenerationAssembly
Fifth generation (2021–)Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Fourth generation (2015–2020)Arlington, Texas, U.S.
Minsk, Belarus
Third Generation (2007–2014)Arlington, Texas, USA
Silao, Mexico (EXT)
Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
Second Generation (2002–2006)Arlington, Texas, USA
Silao, Mexico (EXT, ESV)
Kaliningrad, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia
First Generation (1999–2000)Arlington, Texas, U.S.

How Can You Check Where a Specific Cadillac Escalade Was Produced?

There are a couple of different ways that you can determine where a specific Cadillac Escalade was produced.

The simplest method is to check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Check the 11th character of the Vehicle Identification Number to find the plant code for the vehicle.

Other sources, such as Law Enforcement services, internet-based VIN lookup services, and insurance cards are other places to find information about where a vehicle was made.

1. Use the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

·         The VIN is a long series of numbers that identifies each motor vehicle.

·         The Vehicle Identification Number is standardized and the placement of letters and numbers within the number are significant.

·         To find out where a fifth generation Cadillac Escalade was assembled, check the first and the eleventh VIN positions.

·         For automobiles produced in the U.S.A., you will see a number ‘1’ in the first position.

·         Seeing an ‘R’ in the eleventh position of the VIN means the automobile was produced in Arlington, Tx.

2. Check Dates of Release

You can also use the date of release to check where the Cadillac Escalade was made. Over the years, Escalades have been produced in a number of countries, including Mexico, Russia, Minsk, and others.

The first, fourth and fifth generations of the Cadillac Escalade were assembled solely in the U.S., at Arlington Assembly.

All other generations were assembled at multiple plants.

You may also be interested in our article about where Jeep Cherokees are made

Are Japanese or European Built Cadillac Escalades Better?

There are no Cadillac Escalades built in Japan but there have been models produced in Europe over the years.

From 2015-2020, fourth generation Cadillac Escalades were assembled in Minsk, Belarus (Eastern Europe) for the Russian and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) market.

The luxury SUVs produced in Minsk followed the same rigid quality control standards that exist in the United States.

Furthermore, the models of the Cadillac Escalade from Europe were unchanged from there American counterparts from both a parts and design perspective.

Where Is the Cadillac Escalade Designed?

Cadillac is a subdivision of General Motors (GM). As such, the Cadillac Escalade design is carried out by The Cadillac Motor Car Division, in Michigan, U.S.A.

Once designs are completed and approved, work begins at the assembly plants responsible for various regions throughout the world.

Where Are Cadillac Escalades Made for the Australia Market?

Starting with the fifth generation of the Cadillac Escalade, the only assembly plant responsible for making Escalades will be Arlington Assembly.

Escalades produced in the famed Texas plant are sent to various region throughout the world.

Starting in 2021, Cadillac Escalades will land on Australia’s shores through official channels.

Please also read our article: how long do Cadillac Escalade last?

Where Are Cadillac Escalades Made for the Canada Market?

The Cadillac Escalades aimed at the Canadian marketplace are made in Arlington Assembly. The SUVs are shipped from the plant in Texas to distributers in Canada.

In previous years, some models sold in Canada were produced in Mexico. However, there are no Cadillac Escalades assembled in Mexico from the fifth generation on.

Where Are Cadillac Escalades Made for the U.K Market?

The U.K. market enjoys the same Cadillac luxury sport utility vehicles that all other markets do. Cadillac Escalades sold in the U.K. are made in Texas and shipped to the distributors across the pond.

The market for Escalades in the U.K. is notably light when compared to other markets. Cadillac enjoys a much larger customer base in Eastern European countries and Russia.

Is Cadillac Planning to Move Its Production?

Escalades, at least for now, will be produced in Arlington Assembly.

Other Cadillac models, however, are assembled in other GM-owned plants across the United States and the world.

GM plants that produce or have produced Cadillacs include:

·         Arlington Assembly

·         Detroit Assembly

·         Fairfax II

·         Lansing Grand River Assembly

·         Oshawa Car Assembly (Canada)

·         Ramos Arizpe Assembly (Mexico)

·         Spring Hill Manufacturing

·         GM Argentina (Argentina)

·         Linden Assembly

An important note about the future production of the Cadillac Escalade: In April, 2021, Cadillac unveiled plans for upping their electric vehicle production in a significant way.

Depending on development related to the manufacture of fully electric SUVs, some changes in production methods may be expected.

You may also be interested in our article: how long do GMC Acadia last?

Is Cadillac Hiring or Firing in the U.S.?

Cadillac is always hiring in the U.S. As a subset of one of the largest automotive companies in the U.S., there are continual opportunities available at all levels of the company.

For more information about employment opportunities available at Cadillac, visit the GM employment website.

Is Cadillac an American Company?

Cadillac is an American company. Founded by W. Murphy, L. Bowen, and H. Leland in 1902, the Detroit based company started as an independent company.

Seven years after Cadillac first opened its doors, the company joined GM in 1909 and has been a part of General Motors ever since. 

Resources

https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/company_info/facilities/assembly/arlington.html

https://enginepatrol.com/how-long-do-cadillac-escalade-last/

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...