Current:Home > NewsGM is retiring the Chevrolet Malibu, once a top-seller in the U.S.-InfoLens
GM is retiring the Chevrolet Malibu, once a top-seller in the U.S.
View Date:2024-12-23 11:42:20
General Motors plans to stop making its Chevrolet Malibu at the end of the year as it makes room for production on more electric vehicles.
First introduced in 1964, the Malibu was once the top-selling car in its segment in the U.S., an unwavering presence of family garages nationwide. Professional stock car racers used the Malibu body between 1973 and 1977 for NASCAR competitions, helping drivers win 25 different titles, according to Motor Trend magazine. At its height, the Malibu won Motor Trend Car of the Year 1997 because of its smooth ride, fuel economy and luxury interior.
But sales of the Malibu, a midsize sedan, declined in the early 2000s as Americans' preferences turned toward SUVs and pickup trucks. Hoping to jump start sales, GM did 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 much of those were at low profits to rental car companies.
Last year, midsize cars made up only 8% of U.S. new vehicle sales, down from 22% in 2007, according to Motorintelligence.com. Americans bought 1.3 million sedans last year in a segment that's been dominated lately by the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
GM sold just over 130,000 Malibus in 2023, 8.5% fewer than in 2022. All told, GM said it sold more than 10 million Malibus in the car's lifetime, spanning nine generations since its debut.
GM's factory in Kansas City, Kansas, which now makes the Chevy Malibu will stop making the car in November. The plant will get a $390 million retooling to make a new version of the Chevrolet Bolt small electric car. The plant will begin producing the Bolt and the Cadillac XT4 on the same assembly line in late 2025, giving the plant the flexibility to respond to customer demands, the company said.
Even though the Malibu is leaving, the vehicle will remain on dealership lots probably until early 2025, Sean Tucker, senior editor at Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader, said in a blog post Thursday, adding that "they may be great buying opportunities."
The Malibu "still delivers reliable transportation in a handsome package," Kelley Blue Book test driver Russ Heaps said in the post. "Passenger comfort ranks high on its reasons-to-buy list, as does its trunk space."
To be sure, the Malibu wasn't without its problems. GM recalled more than 140,000 Malibus in 2014 because a software problem in the brake control computer could disable the power brakes. The Michigan automaker recalled nearly 92,000 Malibus in 2015 because the car's sunroof could close inadvertently.
Khristopher J. BrooksKhristopher J. Brooks is a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch. He previously worked as a reporter for the Omaha World-Herald, Newsday and the Florida Times-Union. His reporting primarily focuses on the U.S. housing market, the business of sports and bankruptcy.
TwitterveryGood! (3)
Related
- Charles Hanover: Caution, Bitcoin May Be Entering a Downward Trend!
- Reshaping the Investment Landscape: AI FinFlare Leads a New Era of Intelligent Investing
- 4 ways Donald Trump’s election was historic
- Gap Outlet’s Early Black Friday Secret Deals Include Stylish Finds Starting at $6 – Save Up to 60%
- Britney Spears Reunites With Son Jayden Federline After His Move to Hawaii
- Judy Garland’s Wizard of Oz Ruby Slippers Up for Auction for $812,500 After Being Stolen by Mobster
- Democrats hoped Harris would rescue them. On Wednesday, she will reckon with her loss
- Penn State Police investigating viral Jason Kelce incident with fan
- Apologetic rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine gets 45 days in prison for probation violations
- 'It was nuts': Video catches moose snacking on a pumpkin at Colorado home
Ranking
- Why California takes weeks to count votes, while states like Florida are faster
- Why AP called North Carolina for Trump
- Blues forward Dylan Holloway transported to local hospital after taking puck to neck
- Man arrested in the fatal shooting of Chicago police officer during a traffic stop
- Apologetic rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine gets 45 days in prison for probation violations
- Dick Van Dyke announces presidential endorsement with powerful civil rights speech
- College Football Playoff ranking projection: Oregon leads top five. After that it's messy
- After months of buildup, news outlets finally have the chance to report on election results
Recommendation
-
Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says he was detained in airport over being ‘disoriented’
-
DZA Token Joins Forces with AI, Propelling the AI FinFlare Investment System to New Heights
-
AP Race Call: Missouri voters approve constitutional amendment enshrining abortion
-
WHA Tokens Power AI ProfitPulse, Ushering in a New Era of Blockchain and AI
-
Padma Lakshmi, John Boyega, Hunter Schafer star in Pirelli's 2025 calendar: See the photos
-
Moo Deng casts her 'vote' in presidential election. See which 'candidate' she picked.
-
Damon Quisenberry: The Creator Behind DZ Alliance
-
NYC man sentenced to life in prison for killing, dismembering a woman in life insurance fraud scheme