GM Discontinues Iconic Chevy Malibu Sedan for Electric Car Production

In response to the growing demand for electric vehicles, General Motors has announced that it will be discontinuing production of its iconic Chevrolet Malibu sedan. This decision follows the company’s shift towards building more crossover and sport utility vehicles in recent years. The Malibu, which was first introduced in 1964 and has sold over 10 million units, will officially come to an end later this year. The factory in Kansas City, Kansas, which currently produces both the Malibu and the Cadillac XT4 small SUV, will undergo a $390 million restructuring in order to start making a new iteration of the Chevrolet Bolt small electric car. The plant is expected to resume production of both vehicles in late 2025, allowing for greater flexibility in meeting customer demand. While the Malibu’s demise marks the end of production for all cars manufactured by Detroit’s major automakers, the midsize car segment has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent months, with sales increasing almost 5% last year. However, traditional cars account for less than 20% of new vehicle sales in the US, with SUVs and trucks dominating the market. GM’s decision to focus more on electric vehicles echoes that of its rival Ford, which also stopped manufacturing sedans such as the Taurus and Fusion several years ago.