After a 60-Year Run, GM Is Retiring the Chevy Malibu

It’s the end of an era for the Chevrolet Malibu as General Motors is shutting its production down to focus efforts on a new electric vehicle.

Having sold over 10 million Chevy Malibu vehicles across the globe over many decades, the auto manufacturer announced on Wednesday that it will stop production of the sedan in November.

GM’s decision will free up capacity at its Kansas City, Kansas, plant for its investment of around $390 million in a revamped Chevrolet Bolt EV. GM halted production of its Chevrolet Bolt line in April 2023 but announced in July that it would be reintroduced.

The transformation of the Kansas plant is part of GM’s commitment to EVs, which has been a key focus for the company in recent years. Under CEO Mary Barra’s leadership, GM fully embraced EVs, mostly sidelining hybrid models. However, the company has experienced manufacturing delays, technical hurdles, and, more recently, a broader issue across the industry: weaker-than-expected EV demand.

Last month, GM said it is all set to manufacture 200,000 to 300,000 EVs in North America this year.

The automaker also mentioned it would temporarily stop production of the gas-powered Cadillac XT4 at the Kansas plant starting after January 2025. It plans to resume production in late 2025 when the factory will manufacture both the Bolt and the XT4, which GM said would provide the company with “flexibility to respond to changes in consumer demand.”

Waving farewell to the Malibu marks the Corvette as the final gas-powered Chevrolet car. GM had previously announced the discontinuation of Camaro production in 2024.

The popularity of the Malibu has varied over the decades. It was introduced in 1964, then GM discontinued the vehicle in the early 1980s, partly to shift its attention toward the truck market.

The comeback of the Malibu by Chevy in 1997 aimed to position the front-wheel-drive sedan, a departure from its rear-drive muscle car image in the 1960s and 1970s, as a leader in the midsize market. However, reviews were not as anticipated and were unfavorably compared to competitors like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

In total over the years, GM manufactured nine generations of the Malibu. The classic car from the 1960s has made its presence known in pop culture, making appearances in films like “Repo Man” and “Pulp Fiction.” However, in recent times, the company has faced challenges in maintaining its popularity as consumer preferences shifted toward crossovers and sport-utility vehicles, making it difficult to keep the car fashionable.