On April 16, Hector Villarreal, President of GM Korea, poses in front of The New Escalade, the flagship luxury SUV from General Motors’ premium brand Cadillac, at the Ibex Studio in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province. (Image provided by GM Korea)
SEOUL, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) — As speculation swirls over a potential withdrawal of General Motors (GM) from South Korea amid mounting pressure from U.S. tariff policy under the Trump administration, GM Korea has publicly rejected the rumors and reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the local market.
Speaking at the media launch of Cadillac’s newly redesigned Escalade SUV on April 16 in Gwangmyeong, Gustavo Colossi, Vice President of Sales, Service, and Marketing at GM Korea, dismissed the exit speculation as “unfounded.”
“It is our principle not to respond to speculative rumors,” Colossi said. “We will continue to introduce new product lineups and faithfully execute the strategic roadmap we have established in Korea.”
While Colossi did not provide details about new vehicle rollouts or local investments, he promised that further plans would be revealed in the coming weeks and months.
The New Escalade featuring a 55-inch curved LED display. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Concerns over GM’s future in Korea have intensified in 2025 as U.S. tariff measures raised the cost burden on foreign manufacturing. However, GM Korea has repeatedly signaled its intention to remain, recently announcing plans to increase production of 21,000 additional units—primarily Chevrolet Trailblazers—at its Bupyeong plant.
Yoon Myung-ok, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Communications at GM Korea, emphasized that production continues normally at both the Bupyeong and Changwon facilities. “The output reflects our normal response to market demand,” she said.
At the same event, GM Korea officially began taking orders for The New Escalade, a partial redesign of Cadillac’s fifth-generation luxury SUV introduced to Korea in 2021. The latest model offers substantial upgrades, including the largest alloy wheels in Escalade history (24 inches) and a sweeping 55-inch curved LED display that stretches across the dashboard.
The SUV also boasts Cadillac’s AKG Studio Reference audio system, with higher trims featuring a 40-speaker 3D surround sound setup. Under the hood, it features a 6.2L V8 direct-injection gasoline engine delivering 426 horsepower and 63.6 kg·m of torque, enhanced by dynamic fuel management for improved efficiency.
The New Escalade will be imported entirely from the U.S., but GM Korea clarified that it is unaffected by the Trump administration’s 25% auto tariff, due to the vehicle’s production location and import classification.
“The New Escalade is more refined, more intelligent, and more resilient than ever, equipped with luxurious interiors and cutting-edge technology,” said Hector Villarreal, President of GM Korea. “Cadillac’s global vision remains strong, and the Korean market plays a critical role in realizing that future.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
