Chevrolet Bids Farewell to the Malibu: A Shift Towards Trucks, SUVs and Electric Vehicles

General Motors has announced that it will cease production of the Chevrolet Malibu this year, as the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas, will be reconfigured to produce the new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt EV. This marks a significant shift for Chevrolet’s line-up, as it will now only sell trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette sports car.

In a move following in Ford’s footsteps, Chevrolet is discontinuing traditional cars besides the Corvette. The decision to stop selling the Malibu aligns with industry trends, as traditional cars represent less than 20% of US auto sales according to Cox Automotive. Interestingly, Chevrolet also discontinued its competitor to the Mustang, the Camaro, last year.

The Malibu has a storied 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 competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Malibu sold over 130,000 units last year, indicating its continued popularity among consumers.