The temporary closure of the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant next year will lead to the demise of both the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala. While General Motors‘ confusing approach with the CT6 is certainly newsworthy, the demise of the Impala is also significant – with the nameplate dating all the way back to 1958.
GM’s memo to plant employees sent out this week indicated the last tenth-generation Impala will roll off the line at Detroit-Hamtramck on February 28th, 2020. The Impala has gone on hiatus before (once between 1985 and 1994 and again between 1996 and 2000), but this time around, it’s very possible the sedan’s discontinuation will be permanent. Demand for sedans like the Impala is extremely low, with most consumers now preferring crossovers and SUVs. Additionally, GM is turning its focus toward electric vehicles and an age-old nameplate like ‘Impala’ probably wouldn’t make much sense on an electric vehicle.
Impala sales were down 19.38 percent in the first nine months of 2019, with GM selling 35,433 units so far this year, compared to 43,952 during the same time frame in 2018. That’s a rather large dip in sales, though 35,000+ is still a significant amount of vehicles. Like its crosstown rivals at Ford, though, GM is hoping it can convert owners of discontinued cars like the Impala into crossover and SUV owners and shuffle them into products like the Traverse and Equinox.
For comparison’s sake, Traverse sales were up 6.07 percent through to Q3 this year, with GM moving 113,491 units compared to 106,998 units in the first nine months of 2018. Meanwhile, Equinox sales have jumped 8.35 percent from 234,379 units in the first nine months of 2018 to 253,956 units through Q3 2019.
Sales of the current, tenth-generation Chevrolet Impala were highest in its debut year, with GM moving 140,280 units back in 2014. Sales have steadily declined every year since then and dropped to just 56,556 units for all of 2018.
While production of the Impala is set to end in early 2020, customers will still be able to buy new examples of the sedan for Chevrolet dealers for some time, as inventory of the sedan will remain at dealers throughout the country even after production stops.
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Comments
Okay…but when will we get a concrete story on whether the CT6 is dead as well, or just done at DetHam?? Ending production at DetHam doesn’t mean the CT6 is gone from the American market, I wish GM would just come out and say if it’s moving to Lansing or not.
I think the CT6 needs a re-boot, a re-style, a move to Lansing and a real name.
With sales of the CT6 being quite paltry, i’d be surprised if CT6 was moved to another plant. The XTS got the axe and it outsold the CT6 in the first nine months of the year. It will probably stick around in China but not in the US.
Unfortunately, I bet you’re right. Such a typical GM move, make what really is a terrific car like the CT6, spend a ton of money developing it on a brand new platform, barely market it, and kill it after 5 model years, and a half model year after it finally got a V8 engine that ALSO cost a ton of money to develop, and hasn’t even been around for a calendar year. You FINALLY have a competitive full-size luxury sedan from Cadillac, and you kill it. You couldn’t try to at least run with it a few more years to get SOME money back?
Remember how the old saying was, “That’s the Cadillac of _____,” meant to denote quality and excellence?
How’s this for a new saying, just to coin a phrase? Whenever someone defies all logic to inexplicably screw up what should be an inherently great product/project/idea, you say:
“How GM of you.”
Now the saying would be, “That’s the Cadillac of Chevrolets,” meant to denote a faux luxury marque with gussied up Chevys.
That would be a Pontiac ?
Lol
Buick ?
Oldsmobubble…
Cadillac was the cream of the crop ???
I STARTED WORKING FOR CHEVROLET CCO 10-6-69 LEFT IN 2001 MARCH. FORECASTING ALL CHEVROLET TRUCK WINNERS AND LOSERS. GM TODAY IS JUST A MINI MODEL OF WHAT GENERAL MOTORS WAS AND IS TODAY. SAD FOR ME TO SEE AND TO HAVE LIVED THROUGH THE SADDEST USA TRAGEDY IN THE DESTRUCTION OF THIS GREAT COMPANY. USA HISTORY WILL PROVE THAT” WHAT WAS GOOD FOR GENERAL MOTORS WAS GOOD FOR THE USA.”v
Don’t hold your breath. It will be the same old BS story. Sales down blah blah blah SUV’s selling at record highs blah blah blah. CT6 is just as dead as GM
It’s ok they’ll bring back impala badge, on a P.O.S. EV in a couple of years.
Poor animal Mary abusing critters don’t let PITA know….. ???
Can someone explain to me what it is that would bring an autombile manufacturer to cease production of a vehicle like the Iconic Chevy Impala? It has about top performance ratings in it’s class and in spite of GM’s “F” rating for their marketing, it still sold respectfully well, but, supposedly the reason it’s being axed is because of poor sales, yet they hang on to other models with less sales volume than the Impala. I am a die hard GM fan but it makes me feel like going to the local ford dealer to get the trucks that we use in our business because GM wont let my local GM dealers sell the medium duty trucks of which GM invested how many hundreds of millions for design and development. I understand that it takes equipment and certification to sell and service these vehicles but didnt GM think about that in the developement and planning stages
I would literally have to go approximately 100 miles to the nearest chevy dealer to buy a medium duty truck.
GM builds, hands down, the best powertrains in HD and Medium Duty Trucks, would’nt it make sense to sell them too?? 🙁
Listen GM,,, you don’t have to build cars and trucks the way ford builds them but if you would copy their marketing strategies I bet you’d actually sell some.
Breaking News: Impala nameplate set to return as a midsize+ crossover to slot between Blazer and Traverse…
Another underpowered GM mini wagon / crossover pos.
It’s just part of the great GM feeling…? ???
I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit if that’s the case! This fickle market of ours is willing to accept anything that even resembles a tall station wagon! I understand the appeal of SUVs and CUVs but this is ridiculous!
GM- we need to kill the Impala and every sedan we sell
Logic- But the Impala is the same exact car it was back in 2014 and neutered down to 2 costlier V6 models with very limited exterior color choices and only one interior color- black
GM- but we need to kill it because its not selling
Logic- I haven’t seen a single advertisement for this car
GM- we can only build vehicles with 10-17K profit margins for our fantasyland triple zero future
Logic- But your losing customers and marketshare
GM- But our electric self driving cars will restore us to dominance once again somewhere in the distant future
Barra logic strikes again
SPOT on
Thumbs up!
agreed
Canadian built GM production was maintained by building to sales orders and built 6 Canadian GM Car lines and Trucks. This build made for production lines to slacken off and increase as required. GM today had fired its product buying power (Employees and spends billions on one plant one car line) this needs to stop) The US Corporation took over the Canadian Commonwealth build only to shut the doors in Canada and Australia.
Who’s going to bail her aka Barra out.
The Democrats don’t even like her stinking thinking… Lol
I had a 2015 Impala and was the best car that I ever had. It was optioned out to the max at the time. Traded it in on a Hyundai Santa Fe as soon as they said the Impala was being discontinued. The only wish I had was when it first came out someone had photoshopped what a 2 door hardtop looked like. Sadly it didn’t come to pass. RIP Impala.
“best car that I ever had.”
“Traded it in on a Hyundai Santa Fe as soon as they said the Impala was being discontinued”
WTF?
Just when I think I’ve read the dumbest thing on this site, someone always comes up with a real stunner…..
Glad I could make your day.
I have owned GM vehicles my whole adult life. I have owned impala since 1972. My first vehicle was a 69 two door coupe. I currently own a 2014 LTZ. My favorite as my 95 SS. NOW GM is looking to do away with an American icon all in the name of money.
My next vehicle will be a KIA.
What killed the Impala was GM pushing them on fleet companies. With six or eight month old Impalas on the market at low prices after fleet service to compete with, how did GM expect to sell many new Impalas to the rest of us. When my 2016 dies I’ll probably have to buy a Japanese vehicle in order to get a sedan.
Mary killed the impala…….
Mary killed the impala,
Misappropriation of government money, sleeping with the enemy still….
The USA bailed GM out not China, Mexico… etc…. last time I checked my bail bonds wants his money back. Or go to prison…
I have to agree with some.. but before I ever bought a Kia.. LMFAO or any of the Asian makes.. all used Domestic cars would have to have been exhausted. Anyway.. GM .. Ford.. ARE FOOLS in killing their car line-ups in the U.S. for this CUV craze. Chevy should still have a small, med, large option in the form of a car. Same for Buick.. Same for Cadillac.. with the latter having an much more expanded lineup than even that. If the CT6 is discontinued.. after the 2020.. I really will be lost in terms of buying Cadillac. The CT5 is simply not what I want to move from my CTS-V into.. I want larger.. and the only place I can do that in terms of a car that is competent would be Benz with the S-Class . Sucks that this is the way of their future.. and the only thing that make me feel better is if the CT6 is being replaced with a CT7 OR 8
I wonder what the profits per car are for the Impala. If GM is having to sell them at deep discounts and still only selling 35.4k units in 3 quarters then yeah, makes sense why they wouldn’t keep production going. Not to mention at some point (which is now) a vehicle needs to be redesigned and updated. The sales aren’t there to support that business case. Not saying I like it, but a business exists to make money.
Now the CT6 is a different animal. Margins should be higher and while it sells in lower volume, profit per car is much higher for a luxury brand. Not to mention Cadillac finally got somewhat of a flagship with all sorts of technology. It adds brand cachet and the facelift made the CT6 absolutely stunning. Really hope it’s kept around
I’ve been a Chevy guy forever. I have a 95 Impala & I had a 14 LTZ that I sold to get the SS. (Another car they never advertised). The Impala was comfy and stylish. I’ve contacted GM & told them this is the same mistake they made in the 90’s.
“Chevy Impala, the Finlander Cadillac.”
You needed to live in the area…..
I love GM cars,i had 84 K5 Blazer lasted me for 20 years,i own the ss sedan,which GM never advertise evewhere i drive it people ask me if is really.a GM car,it just go to show thst.shoever is running the.company is complte moron
It was sad when GM killed the Impala/Caprice after the ’96 model for that ugly fwd version. This last Impala was very nice looking. Another sad day in Chevy history. Seems like the sad days are more frequent lately.
After soon to be 62 amazing and not so amazing years, the chevy impala finally ends it’s run, it’s gonna be so sad that car is ending, the impala ranks right up there with the Volkswagen beetle, the Chevrolet suburban and others as one of the great automobiles of our time, there will never be another one like it and it’s gonna so very sad, like the late frank Sinatra said, he did his way and so did the Chevrolet impala.
So sad, I went from a 2010 Equinox Ltz, into a 2018 impala premeir. And love it!!
I too have a 2018 Black Metallic Premier. Absolutely beautiful and the best car I have owned since my first in 1972. GM is crazy! I will not buy an SUV nor total electric. They are forcing people who want sedans to a “foreign” automaker. Don’t think they care. Most people once they switch, they won’t be back.
The bubble top 59 with mighty 409 bow tie haeds…..
I had an El Comino with slip and slide 2 speed automatic.
Oh well just another faded memory….. ???
I don’t think GM fully appreciates how brand loyalty affects their total sales. Although I was a diehard GM fan, I feel further away each time the company terminates historic nameplates like Pontiac, and models like Impala. I can hardly imagine General Motors without an Impala automobile.
That is an excellent point. I had a G6 that I liked and an Impala that I love. So that’s two dead GM cars in a row. GM has succeeded in turning this lifelong GM customer into one who will be shopping elsewhere. I don’t want a Malibu, CUV, SUV or any of the other junk GM has decided to keep slinging. And I have to admit the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata are looking better and better, and unlike a good portion of the GM vehicles (including my Impala) is assembled here in the good ol’ USA.
Let us not forget America created the large sedan market. GM owned at least 30% of the entire automotive market at one time. GM made the best looking,most reliable vehicles on the road. With so much competition for any certain market, advertising is so important. GM never advertised the Impala. How did you expect to compete? The Impala and other cars on that chassis are some of the general’s finest in 20 years. All the foreign cars will quickly fill the sedan vacuum left. BMW, Toyota,Honda have not stopped building large sedans. America must continue to have a presence in the market it created. I have always driven GM and will not buy foreign. You must listen to the consumer. Do you not remember when gas was almost 5.00/gallon and you could not sell a SUV? This time is a fad also. When, not if gas prices change again, all those who abandoned sedans will scramble to put one out again. Only it will be too late. The foreign cars will already have stolen the market and the domestics will never catch up again. I do NOT want an SUV. I want a traditional large AMERICAN sedan. The Impala and Malibu are the most numerous cars in the Chicagoland area. Marry Barra please visit Chicago and see for yourself. You won’t be able to say Impala doesn’t sell. Impala owners are deeply passionate about this car also. Gm will do much better when it’s leaders are actually dyed in the wool car people and not accountants or HR people. You must love cars AND understand what they mean to people. America is steeped in its car culture. Spend time talking to and understanding these people. Then and only then will you understand what the Impala means to me and millions of people like me. GM ceased production of my favorite car, the Monte Carlo. It was always so popular and people still love them. I’ve owned 4 Monte Carlos and 2 Impalas. Gm please wake up and actually tell the world about the great cars you make! All the foreign car manufacturers advertise their cars and they sell every one they can build. I believe in American products. Please show me you do too.
Just traded my 2014 Impala LTZ for a Kia..Impala was the best car I eve owned.I wanted a 2019 Impala but did not want a vehicle I would be unable to get parts for..Kia and Hyundai will be happy to see you a car.
At least I’m not the only one that traded their Impala for a CUV or SUV, except mine was a Hyundai.
GM is making a Huge mistake by eliminating the Impala.
decided by the morons of GM
I think if GM would have updated the impala cosmetically over the years of 2014-current model years more frequently the impala could have been continued for many more years.GM could also do something different with the Impala like they did with the Buick Regal RS.
If I’m ever to get a SUV it sure won’t be from GM. I love my Impala, and disappointed such a fine sedan could not somehow be continued and updated.
I bought the ’14 Impala & fell in love with it, driving 300 miles per week. In 2016, I walked into the Chevy dealer & said, “I know exactly what I want.” I purchased a ’17 Impala. I am so spoiled to the comfort. I don’t want an SUV or CUV. I am grieving they are discontinuing it, for it’s getting about time to trade in. However, I may hold on to it longer than normal, for I bet the trade in value is bad, since no one wants a sedan. I may check out a Kia, next go-round. I love my impala, after they turned it into a great car in ’14. It’s the best car I ever owned.
If you don’t advertise the Impala you don’t sell them.
They should have made a Impala Sport Hatch version, like on the Regal. That could keep some folks from jumping to a SUV, by having a full sized sedan and still have the option to transport something huge if needed.
Mary Barra is the Donald Trump of GM. Trashed the best vehicle GM makes but everyone is afraid to stand up to her as they’ll lose their jobs. I agree, SUVs are now the rage but if you have the best sedan and sedans are disappearing you build a niche. And, hey…not too many products sell without advertising. You designed and made a beautiful vehicle GM. Please re-think your decision. Just about to hit 200,000 nearly trouble free miles on my 2015 LT.
Amen! I got my LT when they first were redesigned in ’14 & bought another one in ’17. I love everything about it & don’t want to give it up… when the time comes
lets keep politics off these comments . if you put all the domocrats together they would not be able to add 1+1=2
i got a chevy ss sedan,a beautiful muscle car that chevrolet never did advertising and finaly was force to close the plant,who ever is running the company is a moran
Hmmm, discontinuing the Chevy Impala for EVs such as the Hummer pickup? Wow what an idiot Mary Barra must be, well definitely not a visionary nor has the thinking of a true car person.
Hey Mary, ever notice what happens every time GM makes a drastic move like this one? You’ll find out the hard way of course.
What GM should do is oust the cheaply made Malibu (or turn it into an EV) and offer a higher performance model of the Impala. Possibly call that model the Impala SS and actually market it through proper advertising. Imagine how the sales would soar! That would be a smart decision on GM’s part and it would save the company from retooling an entire factory and from the great losses they stand to incur.
This spring, I was looking to order a new 2020 Impala but now that the Impala has been discontinued, this isn’t going to happen. The Impala Premiere offered more car and performance for the money than the Cadillac CT5 AWD Premium Luxury.
Why on earth would a company discontinue a winner? Oh yes, we are talking GM here.
GM should give some serious rethinking regarding this move.