My friend just bought a new electric car, and he announced it with a straight face: “I’m becoming the Massage Parlor Emperor.” Then he showed me what he bought — a Cadillac.
Not just any Cadillac. A Cadillac LYRIQ (锐歌), the brand’s first fully electric SUV. And I have to be honest: in our small county town, I’d never seen an electric Cadillac before. I’m pretty sure there aren’t more than five of these in the whole city.
So let me tell you about this car — and the very specific problem that comes with owning something this rare in a small town.
First, the “Massage Parlor Emperor” Joke
If you’re not Chinese, you’re missing the punchline. For years, Chinese internet culture has had a running joke about Cadillac owners: they allegedly spend all their time at massage parlors — the kind of place where men go for a rubdown, a soak, and absolutely nothing else. “Why does a Cadillac owner always know the best massage parlor?” The meme got so strong that Cadillac drivers became known as the “Massage Parlor Emperors.” (In Chinese it’s 浴皇大帝 — a pun on the Jade Emperor.)
So when my friend says he bought a Cadillac to become the Massage Parlor Emperor, he’s leaning into the joke with full commitment. I respect it.
The Car Itself: LYRIQ, Cadillac’s First EV
The LYRIQ is Cadillac’s all-electric mid-size SUV. It’s unmistakably a Cadillac from the outside — sharp angles, vertical light signature, big and confident. The electric version launched in China in 2022 at around 430,000–480,000 RMB (roughly USD 60,000–67,000).
The interior is genuinely impressive. The giant curved display screen that runs across the dashboard is one of the best-looking dashboards in any car at this price, and the touch response is smooth. My friend loves it.
The one thing he’s honest about: no serious driver assistance. “Smart driving? Doesn’t exist,” he said flatly. In 2026 China, where every new EV is marketing its self-driving, a Cadillac that skips the hype feels almost old-school. For him, that’s fine — he bought it for the looks, not the robots.
Why You Never See One in a Small Town
Simple math: the LYRIQ costs 430,000+ RMB. In our county town — where the average new car is a 100,000–150,000 RMB domestic sedan — a 400k+ EV is a big, visible purchase. Add in the fact that Cadillac’s EV lineup isn’t exactly flooding the market nationally, and you get a car that turns heads everywhere it goes.
Which brings me to the real problem.
The Problem With Owning a Rare Car in a Small Town
My friend is a married man. And in a small town, everyone knows everyone — and everyone’s car.
So he’s realized: if he parks this thing outside the local massage parlor for even five minutes, someone will photograph it and send it to his family. The “Massage Parlor Emperor” meme comes with real-life consequences when your car is the only electric Cadillac within 50 kilometers.
You can’t hide. You can’t blend in. Every trip becomes a public appearance.
FAQ: Cadillac LYRIQ and the Massage Parlor Meme
How much does the Cadillac LYRIQ cost in China?
It launched in China in 2022 priced around 430,000–480,000 RMB (roughly USD 60,000–67,000).
Is the Cadillac LYRIQ a good car?
It’s praised for its design, interior, and the big curved display screen. Its driver-assistance features, however, lag behind Chinese rivals like NIO and Xpeng.
What is the “Cadillac massage parlor” joke in China?
A long-running Chinese internet meme claims Cadillac owners are always at massage parlors. Cadillac drivers are jokingly called “Massage Parlor Emperors” (浴皇大帝, a pun on the Jade Emperor).
Why are electric Cadillacs so rare in small Chinese towns?
The LYRIQ costs 400,000+ RMB — a price level that’s still uncommon in small towns, where most new cars cost 100,000–150,000 RMB. So electric Cadillacs are genuinely rare sights.
Over to You
Do you have a car that’s so rare in your area that everyone recognizes it? And for the non-Chinese readers — does your country have its own version of the “Cadillac owner” stereotype?
And if you have any advice for a Massage Parlor Emperor who can’t park anywhere without being photographed, send it over. He needs it.
— Ying