Amid Chevrolet’s cost-cutting efforts, reports have surfaced that the automaker is dropping the ax on the Malibu by 2022.
Citing an unnamed source, GM Authority published a report stating the midsize sedan will head to the chopping block after the 2023 model year. This gives it an expiration date sometime within 2022, which is earlier than expected. Prior to the report, the model was rumored to be getting a refresh in 2023.
The report aligns with the recent news that General Motors stopped plans on new vehicle development earlier this year, owing to the coronavirus pandemic. It was revealed that the company decided to push back plans for future vehicle refreshes and this likely affected the fate of the Malibu.
A spokesperson for Chevrolet told online publication Roadshow: “We are not engaging in the speculation on potential adjustments. Malibu remains in the Chevrolet product lineup.”
But, according to Sam Fiorani of global vehicle forecasting company AutoForecast Solutions, the sedan is an “obvious” choice to let go if GM were really trying to cut back on costs.
“Midsize sedan sales have been hit especially hard in the demand shift toward crossovers,” Fiorani said. “FCA, Ford, and Nissan have already made moves to reduce the production of sedans in order to shift their focus towards more profitable CUVs.”
If GM ends up axing the Malibu, this leaves the Cadillac XT4 crossover as the only vehicle built in its plant in Fairfax, Kansas.
Additionally, it cuts Chevrolet’s portfolio down to one sedan, which is the Sonic. Before the Malibu, the automaker previously discontinued two other sedans, the Cruze and Impala. Within the GM umbrella, other sedans that ended production include the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, and Regal Sportback
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We have bought Pontiacs for years, including LeMans, Trans Am, Grand Am (4), Sunbird, with an occasional Chevrolet. When they pulled the plug on Pontiac we bought a Malibu which has turned out to be very reliable, comfortable and big enough for vacation trips, etc. Now we are faced with the loss of any Chevrolet product that fits our needs. The Sonic (?) is probably too small, and the Camaro is way too expensive.. and the SUV/Truck is not for us. Even Ford is not offering anything we would want.
We have fought the urge successfully all these years to buy foreign cars, but it's getting to the point where an American car is hard to find. And GM and Ford wonder why they can't sell anything. They have convinced many of their customers that they need a 5000 lb. vehicle to go to the grocery store.
And now people are buying Electric cars and paying 40% more for them than they need to because the government gives them a rebate. Most of them will not buy those again, if the government incentive goes away. The EV pays no Road use taxes (mistakenly called the gas tax) and when the states figure that out, the EV owners will start getting a tax bill in the mail. And they think they are saving the environment, when their electricity is generated by coal plants for the most part.
Gm says they can't make a profit from small cars, but Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, etc., have no trouble selling junk to us for enough profits.
When Obama stole GM and Chrysler from the investors and gave the companies to the Unions, it was a death blow to the American car industry.