2024 Chevy Malibu
Chevrolet introduced the current Malibu generation in late 2015 as a 2016 model and fulfilled the legacy of its predecessor by maintaining sales and doing little else.
But with Chevrolet abandoning its sedan from the board and Malibu sales plummeting for the second year in a row despite a refresh in 2019, the model’s future looks bleakest.
2024 Chevy Malibu
According to reports, the American automaker reportedly still has plans for a midsize sedan.
The Chevrolet Malibu will remain part of GM’s portfolio through 2024. To shore up the appeal of the aging model, GM will reportedly deliver a second facelift model in 2022, which could see Malibu last even longer.
The upcoming electric sedan is only entering the early stages of development. Still, Reuss called the design quite dramatic and said the EV would occupy the same midsize segment as the current Malibu.
This possible replacement has been confirmed for the Chinese market, where demand for sedans is still high, but Chevy may eventually offer EVs in the United States.
Chevy recently launched an electric sedan concept in China called FNR-XE. The design can offer a preview of the EV referenced by Reuss, and the idea is based on the Ultium battery platform.
The overall shape is similar to the Honda e: N2 concept unveiled for China in November. Honda and GM are already collaborating on an electric crossover, with the Chevy Blazer EV and Honda Prologue sharing the same platform.
Potential electric replacement Malibu will debut for the Chinese market by the end of 2024, so U.S. sales — if GM decides to bring it here — likely won’t start until at least 2025.
Although many customers have been interested in SUVs in recent years, the Malibu is still a worthy sale for Chevy.
After a massive decline in 2021, down from 102,651 units sold in 2020 to just 39,376 units, Malibu has rebounded in 2022, with nearly 80,000 units sold through the third quarter.
There is still a market for sedans in America, so the electric Malibu might make sense to bring in the Chevrolet United States as the company switches from gas-powered vehicles.
Chevy Malibu LT Redline
