Chevrolet, the main brand of General Motors, has announced that it will stop producing the Malibu sedan this year. This marks the end of an era for the iconic car, which has been built at the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas since its return in 1997. In its place, the plant will begin producing the new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
With this decision, Chevrolet is following in Ford’s footsteps by discontinuing traditional cars and focusing solely on trucks, SUVs and sports cars. The Malibu joins other discontinued models such as the Camaro and Corolla, leaving only a few models in their lineup. Despite its age compared to competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Malibu sold over 130,000 units last year, indicating its continued popularity among consumers.
The move to focus on SUVs and trucks seems to align with industry trends as they continue to grow in popularity. With less than 20% of US auto sales coming from traditional cars according to Cox Automotive, it’s clear that Chevrolet is adapting to meet consumer demand. As for fans of the Malibu, they may have to look elsewhere for their sedan needs as this model comes to an end.