General Motors has announced that it will be ending production of one of its most popular models, in what some people have described as the “death of the sedan”.
The gasoline-powered Chevrolet Malibu will cease to be produced later this year as manufacturers switch to making more electric vehicles.
General Motors has sold more than 10 million Malibu models since its introduction in 1964, with production set to end in November.
The Malibu was the last midsize sedan that Chevrolet had in production and is expected to send shockwaves across the industry.
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The Chevy Malibu will end production in November
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General Motors, which is based in Detroit, Michigan, said it would be investing $390million (£310million) into its Kansas assembly plant to develop Chevrolet Bolt electric cars.
Midsize sedans were previously the top-selling vehicle type in the United States, but have since been replaced in popularity by pick-ups and SUV models.
According to the New York Times, GM sold 130,000 Malibu models in 2023, a significant drop compared to the 200,000 sales seen around a decade earlier.
With the end of production for the Malibu, Chevrolet will now only sell trucks, SUVs and the Corvette sports car in the United States.
Mark Schirmer, spokesperson for Cox Automotive, said: “Honda and Toyota alike must be pleasantly surprised to see their competitors pack up and leave the mid-size sedan business.
“The segment remains sizable – over 900,000 mid-size sedans were bought in 2023 – and Honda and Toyota have excellent offerings, and now with little competition,” he told CNN.
Other experts have warned that ditching sedan models could leave the industry reeling if drivers eventually want to downsize their vehicles away from SUVs and trucks.
Alex Roy, from the Autonocast podcast, said: “Legacy car companies haven’t done a great job of thinking long-term.
“Gutting lineups is probably good for manufacturing efficiency, but not having one vehicle in a given product segment is short-sighted,” Fast Company reported.
The UK website for Chevrolet shows that motorists are only able to get their get updates on the new Corvette Stingray – an impressive sports car with a top speed of 184mph.
While there is no price for the Stingray on the UK website, the US site shows the car starting from $69,995 or £55,623.
In a similar move, Swedish brand Volvo announced that it would only sell SUVs and electric vehicles in the UK to match consumer demand.
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The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is expected to launch in the UK
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While there has been a tendency in recent years for drivers to choose SUVs, it meant that Volvo’s estate and saloon models would be removed from its UK range.
Source Agencies
