GM Confirms Cadillac HQ Will Move to New York

General Motors Co. says it will relocate the headquarters for its Cadillac brand from Detroit to New York City's trendy Soho district in the second quarter of 2015.

GM also is turning Cadillac into a separate business unit. Both moves are part of a strategy to elevate the brand's stature and make it a successful global player in the luxury car market.

Johan de Nysschen, who left as head of Nissan's Infiniti unit in July to join GM, has repeatedly emphasized that Cadillac needs its own independent culture to truly compete with established European luxury brands.

De Nysschen says the New York office eventually will house about 120 sales and marketing people. Cadillac's R&D, product development, design, engineering and manufacturing activities will remain in the Detroit area.