Cadillac first launched the Escalade for the 1999 model year, unveiling a high-end alternative to its siblings, the GMC Yukon and Chevrolet Tahoe. The SUV launched as the premium portion of this segment rapidly expanded, with entries such as the BMW X5, Lincoln Navigator, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. No one could have known it at the time, but the luxury SUV was about to change the auto industry forever and become a major business for automakers worldwide.
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