The next generation Bolt will take its place on the assembly line
The days of the large Chevrolet Malibu sedan are numbered: General Motors announced this week that Malibu production will end in November. The Detroit News reports that the next-generation Bolt will eventually take the place of the Malibu at GM's Kansas plant.
«To facilitate tooling and other plant modifications, after nine generations and more than 10 million sales worldwide, GM will cease production of the Chevrolet Malibu in November 2024 and will suspend production of the Cadillac XT4 after January 2025& raquo;, — a GM spokesman said.
As a result of the Malibu line closing, there will be layoffs at the plant until it starts producing cars again in late 2025. The plant will produce the new Bolt and XT4 simultaneously. Cadillac has no plans to electrify the XT4, even though it will be produced alongside the next Bolt.
When Malibu production ends, the only traditional combustion engine vehicle in Chevrolet's lineup will be the Corvette. Chevy will be a crossover/SUV/truck brand, just like Buick and GMC have already done. The only GM sedans available in America will be the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 and the upcoming ultra-luxury Celestiq.
Malibu — one of Chevy's oldest models. From 1964 to 1978 it was the top-of-the-line version of the Chevelle, and then until 1983 it was a standalone model. It returned in 1997 and remains in the Chevy lineup today.