Cadillac Aims to Jostle Rivals for U.S. Luxury Lead

General Motors Co.'s Cadillac unit expects to nearly double its annual sales to 294,000 vehicles within two years. The brand figures that by then it will be challenging the German competitors that currently have a lock on the U.S. luxury crown.

Don Butler, Cadillac's vice president of marketing, tells reporters the surge will be the result of a raft of new and revamped vehicles, led by the $34,000 ATS small sedan now arriving in dealerships.

Butler predicts the brand will soon be "slugging it out" with rivals. The last time the brand was America's best-selling luxury marque was in 1997.

Last year BMW topped the segment by delivering 247,900 vehicles. Mercedes-Benz was only 2,700 units behind. Lexus followed at 198,600 units, and Cadillac ranked fourth with sales of 152,400 units.

In the first half of 2012, the top three brands posted solid sales gains, but Cadillac slid 18% to 62,800 units.