Chevrolet Shifts Gears: Discontinuing the Malibu to Focus on Trucks, SUVs and EVs

General Motors has announced that it will stop producing the Chevrolet Malibu this year, as the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, where it is built, will be reconfigured to produce the new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt EV. This means that the Chevrolet brand in the United States will only sell trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette sports car.

In a move following in Ford’s footsteps, who stopped selling the Taurus and Fusion sedans last year, leaving only the Mustang in their line-up, Chevrolet has decided to discontinue traditional cars besides the Corvette. Interestingly, Chevrolet also discontinued its competitor to the Mustang, the Camaro, last year. With traditional cars representing less than 20% of US auto sales according to Cox Automotive, this decision seems to align with industry trends.

The Malibu has a long history dating back to its origins as a more luxurious version of the Chevrolet Chevelle in the 1960s. It became its own distinct model by the 1970s and was discontinued in 1983 before being resurrected in 1997. Despite being older than some of its competitors like Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, it sold over 130,000 units last year indicating continued popularity among consumers.