GM decided to keep the Chevy Malibu nameplate alive for at least one more generation

The Chevrolet Malibu is a bit of an unusual vehicle in today's market, as it is the only remaining Chevy sedan in the United States at a time when crossovers are extremely popular and it still has an internal-combustion engine when many automakers are transitioning to electric vehicles. However, GM Authority has learned that General Motors has decided to keep the Malibu nameplate in production for at least one more generation.

In 2019, it was rumored that the current ninth-generation Chevrolet Malibu was set to be discontinued in 2024. Then, in 2020, it was reported that the future of the Malibu nameplate was uncertain. However, according to GM Authority, sources familiar with the matter have revealed that General Motors has decided to continue production of the Malibu for at least one more generation.

Additionally, GM Authority has learned some interesting details about General Motors' plans for the next generation Chevrolet Malibu. The new model will be based on a variant of the GM VSS-F platform called the larger D/E variant. This variant is different from the smaller B/C variant that is used for the Chevrolet Trailblazer and Trax.

The next generation Chevrolet Malibu will carry the program code 9DSC-L, which refers to the VSS-F architecture ("9D"), sedan body style ("S"), Chevrolet brand ("C"), and long wheelbase structure ("L"). According to GM Authority, this architecture may also be considered a new version of the GM E2 architecture that is currently used for the Chevrolet Malibu.

The next generation Chevrolet Malibu is expected to be manufactured at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas, the same facility that produces the current model. Production could begin as early as 2025 and run through 2031, although this timeline may change in the future.

Chevrolet has not yet released its final sales figures for 2022, but through October, Malibu sales had increased by a significant 148% compared to 2021. Chevrolet reported selling 79,799 units through the first three quarters of the year, while only 39,376 Malibus were sold in all of 2021.

 

 

The Chevrolet Malibu is currently outselling several notable Chevrolet SUVs, including the Blazer, Traverse, Trailblazer, Suburban, and Tahoe. It is also performing better than the Chevrolet Colorado, though sales of the midsize truck may increase in the coming year with the launch of the new generation model in July. However, the Malibu is still far behind the top-selling sedan, the Toyota Camry, which had 214,403 sales through October 2022.

The Chevrolet Malibu has a long history dating back to 1964. It was briefly discontinued in the 1980s and 1990s before returning in 1997 and has been a staple in Chevrolet's sedan lineup since then. The current generation model was introduced in 2016 and received a mid-cycle refresh in 2019.

Source: GM Authority