Chevrolet has announced that they will be ending production of the Malibu this year, with production slated to end in November. The Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, where the Malibu is currently produced, will be reconfigured to build the new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt EV. This move will make the Malibu the last sedan still sold by General Motors’ mainstream Chevrolet brand in the United States, with only trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette filling out their lineup.
General Motors’ decision to discontinue the Malibu follows a trend in the automotive industry, as rival companies like Ford have also stopped producing traditional sedans in favor of focusing on SUVs and trucks. Chevy’s close competitor, Ford, made a similar move when they discontinued the Taurus and Fusion sedans, leaving only the two-door Mustang in their lineup. Chevrolet also stopped producing the Camaro, their competitor to the Mustang, last year, leaving only trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette in their lineup.
The decision to discontinue the Malibu is reflective of the declining popularity of traditional cars in the US market, with traditional cars making up less than 20% of auto sales in the country. Despite this trend, GM still sold over 130,000 Malibus last year, marking a 13% increase from the year before. The last generation of the Malibu was introduced in 2016, making it older than popular competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. However, a new version of the Camry, currently only available as a hybrid, has recently gone into production.
The Malibu has a long history, first introduced in the 1960s as a more luxurious version of the Chevrolet Chevelle, known as the Chevelle Malibu. By the 1970s, it had become its own distinct model. Production of the Malibu line ended in 1983 but was later brought back in 1997, and has been in production ever since. The decision to discontinue the Malibu marks the end of an era for the sedan, as it will no longer be a part of Chevrolet’s lineup in the US after production ends in November.
General Motors’ decision to discontinue the Malibu and focus on trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette reflects the shifting market trends in the automotive industry. With traditional cars making up a smaller portion of US auto sales, automakers are adjusting their lineups to focus on more popular vehicle types. Despite its long history and continued production, the Malibu will no longer be a part of Chevrolet’s lineup in the US, as production at the Fairfax Assembly Plant shifts to the new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt EV.