THE bid to introduce Cadillac into the UK and European markets has not been an overwhelming success, General Motors chief executive Rick Wagoner has admitted. Cadillac and Chevrolet were launched into the UK in 1998 and sales have struggled - 819 Chevrolets and 330 Cadillacs with sales of the latter dropping to 61 last year

Wagoner said there would be further opportunities 'to do a better job' with the Cadillac brand in Europe and added: 'There has been some ambivalence about powertrain offerings in Europe which have been heavily influenced by the American market.'

In the UK the £33,499 list price Cadillac Seville STS is the only model available but more variants, including a diesel options, are planned. Vauxhall chairman and chief executive Nick Reilly said: 'Cadillac is a long-term strategy in Europe and in the UK where the product must fit the market. The USA has priority, but in some future product plans the international markets will feature more strongly and that will give us the line-up which will allow us to grow Cadillac.'