Chevrolet, one of the biggest brands in the US auto market, announced that it will stop production of its last sedan, the Malibu, this year. This move follows in the footsteps of Ford, which discontinued the Taurus and Fusion sedans earlier this year. As a result, GM’s mainstream Chevrolet brand in the US will only sell trucks, SUVs and the Corvette sports car.
The Malibu has been an iconic model in Chevrolet’s lineup for over 60 years and has seen various iterations over the years. Last year, GM sold over 130,000 Malibus, signaling a 13% increase in sales. However, despite its long history and popularity, the Malibu’s production has officially come to an end with its final generation introduced in 2016.
Traditional cars account for less than 20% of US auto sales according to Cox Automotive. The Mustang is Ford’s only traditional car left after discontinuing the Taurus and Fusion sedans. Similarly, Chevrolet also stopped production of its Mustang competitor, the Camaro last year. With these moves by two major automakers, it seems that traditional cars are becoming less popular in favor of trucks and SUVs.