Our sister publication, Ford Authority, has just recently reported that the Ford Fusion will officially be discontinued for North American markets in 2020. While not terribly surprising given Ford’s previously-announced intentions to withdraw from the car segment outright, the move makes us a little worried for GM‘s rival – the Chevrolet Malibu.
Late last year, GM announced plans to discontinue the Chevrolet Volt, Cruze, and Impala, with other GM sedans like the Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, and Cadillac XTS to follow suit. The CT6 will not be discontinued, so we’ll attribute that to a communications mishap. But that’s neither here nor there. The bigger picture is that, like Ford, GM is killing off several of its car models and doubling down on more-profitable vehicles, namely pickups, crossovers, and SUVs. Now, with the North American exit of the Ford Fusion imminent, GM – potentially – has one less reason to produce the Chevrolet Malibu.
And it’s not like the Malibu is selling all that well to begin with. Annual Chevrolet Malibu sales volumes have been in decline since a brief peak in 2016, when Chevrolet managed to move 227,881 units. That number fell to 185,857 units in 2017 and 144,542 units in 2018. Now, it appears as though the Malibu is on track to post another sales decline in 2019, with just 34,197 units sold in the first quarter of the year. Assuming that level of performance for all four quarters, GM will end up moving less than 140,000 Malibus in calendar 2019.
To make matters worse, each of those figures is lower than the corresponding numbers posted by the Ford Fusion. In 2016, the Ford Fusion sold 265,840 units, dipping down to 209,623 units in 2017 and 173,600 units in 2018. In the first quarter of 2019, 41,683 units were sold.
Compared to its domestic rivals, the Japanese midsize Honda Accord and Toyota Camry – both of which are segment leaders – are doing quite well. Honda moved 345,225 units of the Accord in 2016, 322,655 units in 2017, and 291,071 units in 2018, while Toyota sold 388,616 units of the Camry in 2016, 387,081 units in 2017, and 343,439 units in 2018.
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 (Q1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu | 227,881 | 185,857 | 144,542 | 34,197 |
| Ford Fusion | 265,840 | 209,623 | 173,600 | 41,683 |
| Honda Accord | 345,225 | 322,655 | 291,071 | 64,411 |
| Toyota Camry | 388,616 | 387,081 | 343,439 | 81,684 |
But who knows? Maybe the Chevrolet Malibu will manage to scoop up additional sales following the Ford Fusion’s departure. Here’s to hoping that, GM will double down on the mainstream midsize sedan segment, rather than abandon it.
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Source: Ford Authority
At a time of year when luxury car ATP usually rises.
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Specifically critical minerals supply chain development.
Scheduled for a Spring 2025 launch.
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I hope not.
They're all taking the ugly black cladding of CUVs and sticking it on their sedans' nose, where it's even worse.
I'm surprised no make has tried a tall sedan since the Ford 500/Taurus. But the Toyota Venza was between a sedan and a CUV and not a success.
Vince Burlapp says we need to think of sedans as the new coupes, which fell from favor in the 80's after several decades of prominence, becoming a niche market.
The Fusion Sport is getting dropped not the entire line. Originally the Fusion was supposed to expire for 20'. I'd said before Ford is quietly waling back it all SUV approach.
This is one more reason for them to keep it around.
Just read on Ford Authority yesterday that about the Fusion. What's interesting in that article is that the Fusion Hybrid is currently outselling the Prius and it's not the first time this has happened. Maybe Ford should reconsider.
On this article here, I do find it interesting that all 4 of the main mid sized cars listed are showing signs of down sales for the past few years. Sure, the Accord and Camry sales are still higher and haven't gone down as much as the Ford/Chevy, but they have not made stupid moves with them (H/T have stayed the course with these and that is what keeps them stronger.) I can only hope Chevy keeps the Malibu and only improves it over time and gives it life for many years.
I'm surprised they didn't kill this one ahead of the Cruze, since it doesn't sell nearly as well as what the Cruze did.
General Motors CEO Mary Barra is doing the math especially if she were to import the Chevrolet Malibu from China or Mexico where labor cost are lower which means the potential for higher profits especially with less competition from the cancellation of the Ford Fusion.
A Malibu from anywhere else but the USA is blasphemy. The nameplate is far too important to the Chevelle lineage. You don't do that to USA heritage nameplates. Chevelle Malibu, Bel Air and the like are sacred to anyone who once loved or still loves Chevrolet. They've already tarnished too many nameplates as it is.
Well it's made in Canada now so....?
GM...........USA heritage???????????????? That doesn't exist anymore!
BUILD IN THE USA!
You can down vote me, but you know what I'm going to say it true to most people.
The current incarnation of the Malibu should already be blasphemy to those that loved the Chevelle and what it stood for and what it was capable of. While some Chevelle models were plain Jane and today's Malibu is keeping in that same ho-hum vibe, there will never be the hot rod, customized versions of the current Malibu. Additionally, GM isn't going to make a blood pumping version of the Malibu. The legend of the Chevelle only lives on in the classics that people so dearly maintain and keep on the road.
My best friend's older brother had a Chevelle and it was something to behold. It could be, and probably was, customized a hundred different ways. Aside from some Pep Boys, stick on plastic bits, you aren't going to see people building custom Malibu creations that will see track or car shows.
Where the current Malibu is manufactured is only a shrinking feeling that will make no difference in 10 years when the Malibu is part of GM's History. In 15 years it will probably come back as an EV.
Sad too. The Fusion is the most competitive midsize family sedan Ford has EVER offered.
I almost bought the Sport trim with the turbo V6, AWD if it had not been for the electrical issues with the first year that package was offered. Really nice optioned, fast and handled better than most other sedans.
It was more obtainable than the SHO.
If we can see Cadillac still offers sedan lineup for us, that means Malibu wouldn't die.
And, Ford doesn't really kills sedan, they will make 4-ddor Mustang to replace Fusion, so GM still knows Malibu having its market. Now, Malibu just needs good interior or more sporty design. It would be good, if Malibu as a cheaper version of CT5.
I don't get it. The 2018 Buick Encore sold around 100,000 units. The Buick Envision sold 30,000 units in 2018. These are not being fazed out. The Chevy Cruze and Malibu both sold 140,000 to 150,000 units each. The Cruze is gone. I understood the Malibu, Camaro, and Corvette were to be spared. The Malibu was saved due mostly to fleet sales, and the fact GM just spent a bunch of money on the plant. If Ford is selling 200,000+ Fusions, why stop making it? GM and Ford still sell less SUVs then cars, but they want to stop making cars, which they sell more of.
Too many beancounters and not enough car people running the show!
GM is losing a whole generation of future customers.