After nearly six decades of production and over 10 million units sold, General Motors has announced the end of an era for its iconic Chevrolet Malibu sedan.
The Detroit-based automaker will end production of the Malibu in November 2024 at its Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, as part of a larger plan to revamp the facility for the production of the upcoming electric Chevrolet Bolt model.
The Fairfax Assembly Plant, which also produces the Cadillac XT4, will receive a substantial investment of approximately $390 million to prepare for the new Bolt.
A GM spokesperson told FOX Business, “To facilitate the installation of tooling and other plant modifications… GM will end production of the Chevrolet Malibu in November 2024 and pause production of the Cadillac XT4 after January 2025.”
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This decision aligns with GM’s recent strategy of shifting focus from cars to crossovers and sport utility vehicles.
General Motors is saying goodbye to the Chevrolet Malibu after decades and more than 10 million sedans sold https://t.co/q82uQoeHdt https://t.co/q82uQoeHdt
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 8, 2024
With the exception of the Corvette, the Malibu is the last remaining Chevrolet car offered in the United States. Despite this trend, the Malibu remained popular, with GM reporting over 130,300 deliveries of the sedan in 2023 alone.
The discontinuation of the Chevrolet Malibu marks the end of a significant chapter in GM’s history.
However, this move by GM could potentially backfire, as the general public is currently rejecting EVs and still favors gas-powered vehicles.
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Despite government mandates and subsidies, most people remain reluctant to adopt electric vehicles, preferring the ease of use, lower cost and convenience of traditional combustion engines.