After 60 years of production, Chevrolet Malibu officially bids farewell to the public. This decision reflects the evolving landscape of the automotive industry, where manufacturers are increasingly prioritizing SUVs and electric vehicles over traditional sedans. This allows General Motors to reallocate resources to the second generation of the all-electric Bolt.
However, production of the Malibu will not stop immediately. The vehicle will continue to be manufactured alongside the Cadillac XT4 at General Motors' Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas City until November 4. After that, production will cease to allow the automaker to retrofit and modify the facility for future vehicles.
A Chevrolet official stated, “When production resumes in late 2025, Fairfax will produce both the electric Bolt and XT4 on the same assembly line, giving General Motors the flexibility to respond to changes in customer demand.” The Fairfax assembly plant benefits from a $390 million investment from General Motors, which will allow it to produce the second-generation Chevrolet Bolt. Unlike the first generation, which was discontinued in December 2023, the new electric vehicle will rely on the Ultium platform and will be “one of the most affordable electric cars.”
While production at the Fairfax assembly plant will be temporarily halted, General Motors will lay off workers until production resumes. Affected employees will be supported during this temporary shutdown.
Chevrolet Malibu began its life in 1964 as a variant of the Chevelle. It did not become a complete model until its fourth generation in 1978. However, this is not the first time the vehicle has been discontinued. In 1983, the original Malibu ceased operation, and production was temporarily halted until the car returned in 1997 as a front-wheel-drive model. Now, in its ninth generation, the latest version of the sedan went into production in 2015.
Although the Malibu production line has been taken over by the second generation of Bolt, General Motors tells us that the discontinuation of the vehicle is in response to changing consumer tastes. Unfortunately for sedan enthusiasts, there will be no direct replacement for the Malibu in Chevrolet's lineup.
