General Motors has announced its decision to discontinue production of the Chevrolet Malibu by the end of this year to make way for more electric vehicles.
Originally launched in 1964, the Malibu enjoyed a prominent position as the top-selling car in its segment in the U.S., becoming a staple in family garages across the nation. Professional stock car racers even utilized the Malibu body for NASCAR competitions from 1973 to 1977, contributing to 25 championship wins, as reported by Motor Trend magazine. The Malibu reached its pinnacle when it was named the Motor Trend Car of the Year in 1997, praised for its comfortable ride, fuel efficiency, and luxurious interior.
However, the sales of the Malibu, a midsize sedan, began to decline in the early 2000s as consumer preferences shifted towards SUVs and pickup trucks. In an effort to revitalize interest, GM undertook a redesign of the Malibu in 2015-16, incorporating a lighter 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, honeycomb grille, and jeweled LED headlights. While sales saw an increase to nearly 230,000 units following the 2016 model year redesign, a significant portion of these sales were attributed to low-profit fleet purchases by rental car companies.
Last year, midsize cars accounted for just 8% of U.S. new vehicle sales, a significant drop from 22% in 2007, as reported by Motorintelligence.com. In 2023, Americans purchased 1.3 million sedans, with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord leading the segment.
General Motors (GM) sold slightly over 130,000 Malibu cars in 2023, marking an 8.5% decrease from the previous year. Throughout its lifetime, GM has sold over 10 million Malibus across nine generations since its introduction.
GM's Kansas City, Kansas factory, currently producing the Chevy Malibu, will cease Malibu production in November. The plant will undergo a $390 million retooling to manufacture a new version of the Chevrolet Bolt electric car. By late 2025, the plant will produce both the Bolt and the Cadillac XT4 on the same assembly line, allowing for greater flexibility to meet consumer demands.
Despite the discontinuation of the Malibu, the vehicle is expected to remain on dealership lots until early 2025, according to Sean Tucker, senior editor at Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. Tucker suggested that there may be excellent buying opportunities for interested customers.
"The Malibu continues to offer reliable transportation in an attractive package," remarked Kelley Blue Book test driver Russ Heaps. "Its emphasis on passenger comfort and spacious trunk make it a compelling choice for buyers."
Despite its popularity, the Malibu faced some issues. In 2014, GM issued a recall for over 140,000 Malibus due to a software glitch in the brake control system that could lead to power brake failure. The following year, the Michigan automaker recalled nearly 92,000 Malibus because of a problem with the sunroof, which could close unexpectedly.
