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GM is ending production of its well-known Chevy Malibu sedan and will make the new Bolt EV in its place, according to The Detroit News.
The automaker will shut down production of the Chevy Malibu at the Fairfax Assembly Plant this November. After that, the plant will be updated to produce the Bolt in addition to the Cadillac XT4 it already makes.
GM confirmed the move to Techopedia. In a statement, it said the move would help install “tooling and other plant modifications” for the Bolt. Production will pause for the XT4 in January 2025, and will start up for both the new Bolt and the XT4 late that year.
The company had already committed to a $390 million investment in Fairfax for the sake of the Bolt.
The new Bolt EV is based on the Ultium platform that underpins GM’s modern electric cars, including the Chevy Blazer EV, Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV. It was introduced in part as a response to concerns that the old Bolt’s end would take away an affordable option for all-electric driving.
GM’s decision wasn’t surprising. The brand has been phasing out hatchbacks and sedans, and the Chevy Malibu’s popularity (it was a bestseller in 2023) kept it alive where models like the Impala were discontinued years earlier.
As with competitors like Ford, GM has responded to a tougher-than-expected EV market by shifting some of its attention toward hybrids. However, the decision to axe the Chevy Malibu in favor of the Bolt EV indicates that electrification is still important. GM is willing to drop a successful, recognizable gas car to aid in its transition to a pure electric lineup by 2035.
