Catherine Rusoff
General Motors plans to stop manufacturing its Chevrolet Malibu at the end of the year as it makes room for the production of more electric vehicles.
First introduced in 1964, the Malibu was once the best-selling car in its segment in the U.S., a steadfast presence in family workshops across the country. Professional stock car drivers used the Malibu bodywork between 1973 and 1977 for NASCAR competitions, helping drivers win 25 different titles, according to for Motor Trend magazine. In its prime, the Malibu gain Motor Trend Car of the Year 1997 due to its smooth ride, fuel economy and luxurious interior.
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But sales of the Malibu, a midsize sedan, declined in the early 2000s as Americans’ preferences shifted toward SUVs and pickup trucks. Hoping to boost sales, GM made a redesign of the Malibu in 2015-16 complete with a lighter 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, honeycomb grille and jeweled LED headlights. Sales rose to nearly 230,000 after a redesign for the 2016 model year, but many of them generated low profits for rental car companies.
Last year, midsize cars accounted for just 8% of U.S. new vehicle sales, down from 22% in 2007, according to the Motorinteligência.com. Americans bought 1.3 million sedans last year, in a segment that has been dominated recently by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
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GM sold just over 130,000 Malibus in 2023, 8.5% fewer than in 2022. In all, GM said it sold more than 10 million Malibus during the car’s life, spanning nine generations since its debut.
GM’s plant in Kansas City, Kansas, which now makes the Chevy Malibu, will stop making the car in November. The factory will receive a $390 million renovation to manufacture a new version of the Chevrolet Bolt small electric car. The plant will begin producing the Bolt and Cadillac XT4 on the same assembly line in late 2025, giving the plant flexibility to respond to customer demands, the company said.
Even though the Malibu is on its way out, the vehicle will remain on dealer lots likely until early 2025, Sean Tucker, senior editor at Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, said. he said in a blog post on Thursday, adding that they “could be great buying opportunities.”
The Malibu “still offers reliable transportation in a good-looking package,” Kelley Blue Book test driver Russ Heaps said in the post. “Passenger comfort is at the top of the list of reasons to buy, as is trunk space.”
To be sure, the Malibu was not without its problems. GM recalled more than 140,000 Malibus in 2014 because a software problem in the brake control computer can disable the electric brakes. The Michigan automaker recalled nearly 92,000 Malibus in 2015 because the car’s sunroof may close inadvertently.
