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General Motors (GM) has announced that it will conclude production of the Chevrolet Malibu, its last affordable sedan in the U.S., known for its history dating back to the 1960s. The shift away from sedans, compacts, and hatchbacks towards sports utility vehicles (SUVs) has been a trend among American drivers for several years now. GM’s Detroit competitors, Stellantis and Ford Motor, have similarly removed most car models from their U.S. offerings.
While foreign automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai continue to sell sedans and compacts on a significant scale, their numbers are also diminishing. Recently, Japanese car manufacturer Subaru said it would cease production of its Legacy sedan next year. GM will continue to produce the Malibu at its Fairfax, Kan., plant until later this year. Looking towards the future, the factory will be restructured for the Chevrolet Bolt’s new version, an electric car, and the luxurious Cadillac XT4 SUV.
Larger vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks have become increasingly popular as they are more spacious and suitable for families and recreational activities. The trend has also been fueled by automakers who benefit more from these larger vehicles compared to sedans and compacts.
Since the Malibu was launched in 1964, over 10 million units have been sold. However, recent years have seen a decline in sales. In 2023, GM sold 130,000 Malibus, with sales falling by 47% in the year’s last quarter. Comparatively, GM typically sold about 200,000 Malibus a year a decade earlier.
Other notable changes in GM’s lineup include the discontinuation of the Chevrolet Camaro sports car in 2023. Moving forward, the only cars manufactured by GM for the U.S. market will be the Chevrolet Corvette and a high-end electric car under its Cadillac brand. All other models will be trucks or SUVs.
Ford took similar steps a few years ago by eliminating sedans from its U.S. lineup, leaving the Mustang as its sole car model. Stellantis, owner of Chrysler, now primarily manufactures trucks, SUVs, and minivans. However, an electric version of the Dodge Challenger muscle car is set to be introduced in 2025.
Despite the current trend, GM could potentially revive the Malibu as an electric vehicle in the future, following the industry practice of resurrecting well-loved model names.
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