The Chevrolet Malibu car is the final cheap sedan in General Motors' vehicle portfolio in the United States. However, the automaker announced Wednesday that it would cease production of this gasoline-powered car later this year.

Chevrolet Malibu Manufacturing Ends in November

With almost 10 million Chevrolet Malibu cars sold globally since 1964, General Motors will officially stop producing the affordable sedan in November to focus on manufacturing new electric vehicles (EVs).

According to Reuters, the next generation of Chevrolet Bolt EVs will be manufactured at the Kansas assembly facility, which General Motors is putting $390 million into. 

The previous generation of Bolt was put on hold last December. The Chevrolet Malibu sales fell 12.5% in the first quarter of the year but surged 13% to 130,000 in 2023. Ten years ago, General Motors sold about 200,000 Malibus annually on average.

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General Motors Also Shifting Its Focus on Bigger Cars

General Motors has also been focusing less on producing sedans and more on producing sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and crossovers in recent years since American drivers have been shifting their preferences.

The New York Times reported that more spacious SUVs and pickup trucks have surpassed sedans as the preferred mode of transportation for consumers with children and for transporting leisure equipment. 

Because SUVs and pickups generate more revenue than compacts and sedans, car manufacturers have responded by manufacturing more of these bigger vehicles.

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