GM’s Mainstream Chevrolet Brand to Stop Selling Sedans in the US: Saying Goodbye to the Malibu

General Motors has announced that the Chevrolet Malibu, which was the last sedan sold by its biggest brand, will cease production this year. The decision was made to reconfigure the Fairfax Assembly Plant in Kansas City, Kansas to produce a new generation of the Chevrolet Bolt EV. This means that General Motors’ mainstream Chevrolet brand will now only sell trucks, SUVs, and the Corvette sports car in the United States.

The move by GM is similar to one made by Ford years ago when it stopped selling the Taurus and Fusion sedans, leaving the Mustang as its only traditional car in its lineup. Last year, Chevrolet also stopped producing its Mustang competitor, the Camaro. Traditional cars make up less than 20% of US auto sales according to Cox Automotive.

The last generation of the Malibu was introduced in 2016 but it is now older than popular competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. Despite its age, GM sold over 130,000 units last year which was a 13% increase from the year before.

First introduced in the 1960s as a more luxurious version of the Chevrolet Chevelle known as the Chevelle Malibu, The Malibu became its own distinct model by the 1970s. The model line ceased production in 1983 but was reintroduced in 1997 and has been in production ever since. With this decision GM is focusing on expanding its SUV and truck offerings while leaving traditional cars behind.