GM sunsets the Malibu as automakers say so long to sedans and Americans go big

The endangered-sedans list… GM announced it’s ending production of the Chevrolet Malibu, the brand’s last sedan sold in the US. More than 10M Malibus have been sold since its 1964 debut, but the model’s sales have dwindled as drivers shift to SUVs and trucks. GM is giving its Malibu factory a $390M upgrade to produce Chevy Bolt EVs and luxury SUVs. The Malibu — a friend to thrifty airport renters — will join the sprawling sedan junkyard.

• Sedan dustpan: Just 8% of new-vehicle sales in the US last year were midsize cars. Stellantis and Ford have scrapped most of their sedans (the Mustang is Ford’s last traditional car), and Subaru said it’ll end the Legacy next year.

• Seduopoly: The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord still dominate the sedan market. Yet Accord sales are down 12% from last year.

• Midsize, mid-demand: GM sold 130K Malibus last year, a 9% drop from 2022. Many Malibu sales in recent years have been to car-rental companies, which net lower profits.

Always be hauling… Traditional cars have been left in the dust by larger SUVs and trucks. By some estimates, conventional cars now make up less than 20% of US auto sales (in 2012 sedans accounted for half of sales). Ford’s F-Series trucks have been America’s best-selling vehicle for 42 years straight, and 8M+ SUVs were sold in the US last year. While safety ratings play a part in Americans going big, regulatory loopholes are also at play: for decades, fuel-economy standards (now 40 miles/gallon) haven’t applied to “light trucks” (including SUVs), which may’ve encouraged carmakers to lean in to producing them.