Cadillac dealers spruce up

DETROIT — More than 200 Cadillac dealerships nationwide will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each to spruce up their showrooms in an effort to better compete with Lexus, Mercedes and other luxury brands.

The makeovers, to be completed within the next two years, include oak walls, limestone exterior tiles, modern lighting and leather chairs, all specified by General Motors, the company said Thursday.

The changes are part of an effort by GM and other automakers to prod dealers to renovate buildings in an effort to change their image with car shoppers.

The work can cost anywhere from $200,000 to over $1 million per dealer depending on the age and condition of buildings. Dealers say GM will help pay for the improvements in a program tied to how many cars a dealer orders.

There are about 950 Cadillac franchises nationwide, many of which are combined with other brands.