As U.S. car buyers lean ever more heavily towards crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, automakers are responding by filling every niche possible with new and exciting products. However, with the proliferation of these three vehicle types, less popular body styles are dwindling, seen most dramatically in the sedan segment. This downturn for traditional four-doors is more than obvious when looking at General Motors’ U.S. vehicle lineup, which cut its sedan offerings from 13 models to three models in just five years.
The Last Chevy Impala produced.
Chevrolet was the hardest hit when it comes to General Motors’ latest sedan purge, losing five vehicles total, including the Chevy Sonic, Chevy Cruze, Chevy Impala, Chevy SS, and the fleet-exclusive Chevy Caprice PPV. Funny enough, Chevy is also the only non-Cadillac GM brand to still offer a sedan, namely the Chevy Malibu.
Buick LaCrosse Sport Touring
Meanwhile, Buick lost the Buick Verano, the Buick LaCrosse, and the Buick Regal. That said, it’s worth mentioning that the Regal was arguably last offered as a “proper” sedan back in 2016.
Finally, there’s Cadillac, which killed off the Cadillac ATS, the Cadillac CTS, the Cadillac XTS, and the Cadillac CT6. Caddy currently offers the Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5, which join the Chevy Malibu as GM’s final three sedans left standing in the U.S. market.
| Model | Final Model Year |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Sonic | 2020 |
| Chevrolet Cruze | 2019 |
| Chevrolet Impala | 2020 |
| Chevrolet SS | 2017 |
| Chevrolet Caprice PPV (fleet only) | 2017 |
| Buick Verano | 2017 |
| Buick Regal | 2020 |
| Buick LaCrosse | 2019 |
| Cadillac ATS | 2018 (sedan), 2019 (coupe) |
| Cadillac CTS | 2019 |
| Cadillac XTS | 2019 |
| Cadillac CT6 | 2020 |
As GM Authority covered previously, GM’s crosstown rival, Ford Motor Company, currently has no sedan models. At the same time, other automakers offer a variety of four-doors. Volkswagen, for example, has six sedans, while Hyundai/Kia/Genesis has 11.
In addition to dwindling sales and interest from U.S. buyers, General Motors is also cutting its sedan lineup to help free up money for long-term technology investments, primarily all-electric vehicles and self-driving autonomous vehicles. As such, underperforming vehicles (i.e., sedans) are cut, giving us the current crossover-, SUV-, and truck- heavy GM lineup we see today.
Subscribe to GM Authority for ongoing Chevrolet news, Buick news, Cadillac news and General Motors news coverage.
Comments
I hope GM does’t do Ford’s mistake of killling all its sedans. Not everyone likes SUV’s or Crossovers or is willing to buy one, no matter what. The market is cyclic and letting that market segment go will make that it may no return when trends change again as they become familiar with other brands. The Celestiq and keeping that remaining sedans is a wise decision from GM. Succesfull brands like Tesla or the new Lucid produce sedans. MB, Audi or BMW, the brands against GM pretends to compete produce also sedans. Ford made a huge mistake killling all its sedans and not keeping even one in its lineup. GM seems it will not do the same stupidity. I hope so.
I doubt all sedans are dead from GM in the US, either its gonna be a Chevy or a Cadillac from now on. The truck/CUV market in the US drives the profits now.
If sedans get popular again, maybe they’ll import them from Mexico–or post-Trump, China. Is it too much to hope they’ll be built in the U.S. or Canada?
Also, FCA, soon to become Stellantis, gives us the Dodge Charger and Challenger, Chrysler 300, Alfa Romeo Giulia, and a few Maseratis.
………only because the Chrysler/Dodge cars are built on 30 year old, Mercedes derived platforms that were paid for many many years ago. They are probably the oldest hardware for sale in the US. They are obsolete. There are Medical students alive today that are younger.
Also, rental and government fleet sales are a large chunk of the business (except for the Challenger of course) . If it weren’t for that I suspect both of them would have already follwed the Taurus and the Impala. They will disappear in the next few years. There are no plans to replace them.
I don’t know why you would mention the Giulia or Maserati. Cadillac sedans compete with and outsell the Alpha. Comparing anything with Maserati is simply ridiculous.
So start thinking of other reproaches.
“only because the Chrysler/Dodge cars are built on 30 year old, Mercedes derived platforms …… They are probably the oldest hardware for sale in the US. They are obsolete…”
That’s a misconception, if anything the LXs are more related to AMC than Benz as the AMC/Renault designed Medallion was a starting point for the 90s LH cars, in turn a starting point for the LXs.
The 300 was originally to launch MY 01′ until the hostile merger only to install some Daimler hardware that can’t fit on same era Benz products. Fast forward now the LYs as they called now are nearly different car now than the 00s’.
“Also, rental and government fleet sales are a large chunk of the business …….”
Yes, GM trucks isn’t sold to fleets…….. Just because FCA fleets takes business don’t mean it isn’t selling to buyers also they being replaced by 23′-24′ provide that the GC is is on the platform too as you see it’s taken a while for a new GC.
Maybe not the oldest.
The Chevy Express has bin on sale for the last 25 years and has had very few updates in that time.
All the Auto Maker’s are building and pricing vechicals no one can afford to buy.
»Nobody goes downtown any more, because there are just too many people«
wasn’t it Yogi Berra who said this truism?
I want an 11th generation impala. T^T
I have a 2020 Impala, sold the 2015 Impala. My local GM dealer hasn’t had a new one on his lot for years they had to do a dealer trade to get mine. But yet his best selling used vehicle is the last body style.. A great vehicle for a 4 month snowbird stay with the fold down back seat. V-6
I’ll keep my ct6 to the grave
Same here with my mint 2012 CTS Coupe!
I LOVE my ’19 Malibu Premier. I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
Really! I’m buying in next week. I’m happy to hear this
@Shawn you should they are great man i have one too i just modified
GM and Fords dumb moves only makes Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Subaru, and Kia more money. Lots of it. I’m glad I bought my 19 Cruze LS in November 18.
Big mistake killing off the ct6 hopefully it will be back with a lower base salary and a new name. My family have been with Cadillac sedans for 12 years now owning a 2016 ct6. It’s the best one yet I was disappointed that Cadillac did not focus on transitioning cts owners into the ct6 segment….The ct5 is a great sedan but does not compare with the ct6.
@Charles R
It is exactly what I have been saying for years.
We’ve turned into a crossover (CUV) society as people are willing to pay more money for a CUV with the same engine than buy a sedan and most of this is because everyone else drives a CUV.
For me a Impala fit in all aspects but because I am 70 there was not enough of us to keep the sales going.I am going to buy the last year of Impala @2020 if and when the cost drops.If not after owning 60 cars and trucks my 2018 will stay with me to the end.
And the other manufacturers are more than willing to fill in where foolish GM has left.
I am betting that Honda will supply GM next-generation Malibu and or whatever small vehicle gm will need.
BIG mistake pushes people to imports. They need quality entry level model to capture youth market and rebuild loyal base for future sales. If first car is GM likely to continue buying.
Why 2 Cadillacs should have kept the Impala along with the Cruze
COLOSSAL mistake by the Ladies running this mega-company, purging ALL Buick sedans, especially the euro-sporty Regal. AND giving away proprietary Auto Tech to the communist authoritarian Chinese Regime UNTIL they kick GM out of the country in the future. What a tragedy, lead by America’s “Globalist” CEO “leadership”. It is already coming back to haunt. America’s best days are in the rear view mirror………
I Know that’s right.
Once again I ask: What do they consider the Spark? It’s just a small (very small) sedan in hatch form. It’s not a CUV, not an SUV, not a truck. What do they classify it as? This is the second article from GMA talking about “sedans” and the lack of them and not once did you list the Spark. Please advise.
Where did my post go? Hello?? haha.
Spark?
Mary will be the death of GM .
I see nobody mention anything about the future of the Camaro , But there has been talk ,that due to low sales ,that the Camaro will be discontinued . If the happens, I wonder if the Malibu will be used as next NASCAR racer ?
I think this site is having trouble. I’ll try again.
What about the Spark? It’s not a CUV, SUV or truck. It’s basically a very small sedan/car in hatch form. This is the second article on here about sedans, yet neither one mentions the Spark. What do they classify it as?
Good question. I would lump it in with sedans. Or maybe just a “car” as opposed to a CUV people-stuff module thingie.
@John: Good to know! So I’m driving a “car” instead of a “people-stuff module thingie”. Haha.
But seriously though, I really do wonder what it’s officially classified as. Thus my question to GMA as to why they never talk about it when doing “sedan” articles.
DUMB IDIOTS
They really should keep the Malibu around. The next generation should offer AWD and a wagon variant. Buick should also get a version.
Not everyone wants an SUV. The Malibu is a solid vehicle and the latest update gave it a nicer IC and an auto start/stop defeat switch. It’s a very good value.
I may buy a 2.0T Malibu Premier in 2022 If they are still around .
You dumb ass’s. I’ve been buying these cars for years. I’m not buying a suv. I’ll but a Mercedes next. Thanks Mary.
Tony
YoY U.S. sales thru September.
11,732 A-class -13%
20,597 C-class – 46%
20,393 E-class – 32%
6,630 S-class – 25%
When people say car sales are falling, what they really mean is car sales are falling even at Mercedes.
Morons. Idiots. Fools. Followers. Did I mention I am pi55ed that GM and Ford have murdered all of the great sedans. I will never never never buy an SUV, cuv, or truck. Looks like Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and many other foreign automakers have instantly earned my business. I pray for $5/gallon gasoline again. That’ll teach em!
Rusty Thornburg
at Toyota: Scion, both Yarises, PriusC, Prius V, Lexus CT, Lexus GS are all dead.
Honda killed off the: Fit, Clarity, Acura RLX & NSX
Hyundai hasn’t built an: Equus, Azera, Amanti, in ages.
KIA? if the vehicles were any good owners wouldn’t be removing the logos.
Hyundai/Kia spun off Genesis. It has crossovers coming, but so far it’s all sedans, and they’re selling.
We love our ’17 Lacrosse with the LGX V6 and Aisin 8 speed transaxle. Gobs of power and great mileage. I guess we’ll just stay with this great car. I sometimes wonder about GM’s thinking about sedans these days…
Plus I was raised as a GM Cadillac kid have a CT6 loved it but GM killed it off so how Cadillac supposed to be competing with BENZ BMW luxury business without a big sedan. And this so called hand made Big $200,000 Cadillac Electric car they bring is crazy. Because if I can afford a $200,000 car it want be and American made. Thank you GM all trucks and SUV going hurt u watch
If they don’t change upper management at gm thr company is doomed. I’ve wanted a new big car from gm for some years, but everything has the dinky 4 cylinder engines that I will not buy. Acura RDX here I come.
All I see are idiotic comments here. GM is building cars people want to buy. Nobody was buying sedans anymore so they were discontinued. GM is in the business of making money. If there was still enough interest in these sedans they would still manufacturer them. These Hyundai and VWs that are reffered to are built for the worlwide market. North Americans are buying Cross overs and trucks. GM knows this and react to the market. This is how you stay relevant and profitable. Article failed to mention that GM has 6 new Cross overs and SUVs that have entered the US market in the last year. GM’s only real issue right now is supplying enough vehicles to keep up with consumer demand. Have any of you been to a dealer lot recently? Completely out of vehicles. The only vehicles on the lots are Malibus, Impalas because no one is buying them.
Would have loved the chevy ss to have continued and become available to Canada.
I think GM knows how to make this segment profitable but they choose not to invest in other stuff. If they made their sedans super appealing to young adult crowd and as “sporty/exotic” looking as conveniently possible they definitely would sell more, because thats the biggest market for sedans right now. i’m 23 and i have no desire to buy any kind of SUV. This is what KIA/hyundai are doing with the new K5/Sonata/ stinger, I see them go viral on twitter all the time.
Folks think about it. You have to build so many sedan cars to sell to make a profit. If you are not selling enough of that product to make a profit then why do you continue to build them if you’re losing money so GM & Ford were losing money so it was better for them to cut their losses. Does this make any sense to some of you folks ? If it was your business and your money what would you do ? Some men buy SUV’s but the majority buy trucks period. Some women now a days buy trucks but the majority buy SUV’s. The younger crowd coming into the market are buying SUV’s and trucks, none are looking for cars. Majority of woman like easy in and easy out not get down into then climbing out of. Woman like putting things they buy like groceries or baby things or kid things in and out without strain on them and like the SUV to easily put in and take out without straining their back. Same with younger women with babies in car seats taking them in and out of back seats without strain on their backs, hips, or necks and same with grandparents too. Cars are against all these things that SUV’s offer and today’s midsize SUV’s are just as good on gas mileage as the car. My opinion sedans won’t be coming back and will eventually disappear from all automakers. Folks also like sitting up a little higher than a car so they can see around them better. The only thing that kept the sedans going was gas mileage but now that SUV’s getting just as good and are more user friendly folks are switching over to them to help make their life better. Power liftgates is the SUV’s hot option which in my opinion should become standard across the board on any SUV. Midsize SUV is the hot point overall for price, room, height, and mileage. Also easy park. Trucks, we all have to have trucks so they will always be strong and growing in the market. SUV’s will continue to grow as well and be the center point in most locations. Some folks think only of themselves and not the overall market demands that a business has to look at to survive. If u want it from a particular manufacturer but can’t get it evidently not enough of “you people buyer’s” are out there for that manufacturer to build it so you’ll have to go to another brand for that particular type vehicle and understand the cause without complaining of your manufacturer that quit building them. Some of these remarks I read sounded political, lol.
Finally. Someone that knows what this is about. GM didn’t make the decision to stop building sedans, car buyers did. If they were still selling they would still be building them. This was a smart decision and it should have been made before they wasted so much money designing the Buick Regal and the CT6. They cut their losses now. If you really still want to buy a sedan, hurry and buy one now before all the other manufacturers follow GMs lead. The full size sedan is dead…The 1970s and 80s are over. They may be reincarnated 20 years from now as electric cars but times have changed and good on GM for recognizing this. GM has made billions of profits since their resurgence through bankruptcy over the last decade and they are doing all the right things to make sure that they don’t suffer the same fate they did in 2008. It’s a good thing none of you are running the company, building cars nobody is buying.
Welcome to 2020!!!
Remember, people are largely bovine and if you have the right kind of advertising(Mad Men anyone?) that can make the right pitch they will buy it. The business of advertising is to get people to buy things they didn’t really think they needed with money they haven’t got.
Edward M Pate: OMG, did you actually read what you wrote before posting? What you said works for small ticket items like a phone, computer, speakers, food, shoes, etc. But please take it from someone who’s been in the automotive world for nearly 19 years now. From what you said, the best GM or anyone else could wish for would be if the advertising caused a current sedan driver to trade up now rather than waiting. But you will not convince someone who had a need or sees the value of a CUV/SUV/Truck that they need a car instead. I’m with a Volvo and Mazda store now for about 5 years. Volvo’s sedan (car) sales is going down like a lead balloon. And Mazda’s once mighty selling Mazda 3 is now an after-thought to the CX5, new CX30 and isn’t much better than the junk and now obsolete CX3. What GM’s “right kind of advertising (Mad Men)” need to figure out is how to get the sheep who continually buy Honda’s and Toyota’s to actually look at a GM CUV/SUV to see just how good they are.
I never interested having sedan. Wagon is okay but 4 doors sedan is a no … Subaru is very smart to modified their wagon band sedan
@ACZ: I’m 53 years old. I still like sedans a lot, but don’t push that on everyone. Being in the automotive business, I understand fully what William and Nathan are saying. Sounds to me like maybe you are the one pushing the Kool aid? Why is the concept of being profitable foreign when we talk about the car world?
So ACZ, what type of business are you in? Do you own your own or work for someone? Let’s say you worked for Amazon and they only began to offer the items they wanted to sell but the vast majority of buyers were not buying what Amazon was trying to sell. If you were an hourly worker and your hours were cut because of lack of business, would you say something? If you were in management and were watching overall sales plunge, would you stick to your guns and continue to sell what you wanted? What if that meant your salary would be cut by 40%? And this is coming from someone who does feel all brands need to continue offering sedans, so please don’t try to say I’m drinking kool aid.
You can’t build bland sedans and expect them to sale. Take a look at the Dodge Charger, it’ has the oldest platform in the industry and has consistently been number 1 selling sedan, long before GM and Ford discontinued building them. GM simply don’t get it. Everybody don’t want front wheel drive. They offered no exclusivity, you barely can tell a Malibu from a Impala, from a Cadillac.
So put the V-6 back in the Malibu and see them move off the sales floor!
The Itty-bitty 3’s and 4″s are for motorcycles and ICECREAM VENDERS!
Pedal cars look like the future with present GM DESIGN as led (?) by Management!
At least give it a bigger 4. Two liters? You can get a 2.5 in a Mazda3.
The Mazda 2.5L 186 HP and 186 lbs feer of torque. Why does GM need a bigger engine. Here are the GM specs.
GM 2.0 Liter Turbo I4 Ecotec LTG Engine.
Type:2.0LÂ I-4ApplicationsHorsepower hp (kW)Cadillac ATS:272 hp (203 kW) @ 5500 rpm SAE CertifiedChevrolet Malibu:259 hp (193 kW) @ 5300 rpm SAE CertifiedApplicationsTorque lb.-ft. (Nm)
Facts don’t mean anything here.
Who would have thought, support American manufacturing and buy a Honda or Toyota sedan, support communist China and buy a Buick
I drive a ’98 Malibu. I am the original owner, am a 52 y.o. man. I had my Malibu painted a non-metallic dark green, which I find very handsome/pretty. I like elegant looking SEDANs, like the early ’90s Buick Park Avenues. I find the Ford Fusion to be a good looking vehicle too. I will get another SEDAN when my current vehicle gives up the ghost. I would prefer a GM or Ford vehicle, but they seem to think everyone wants a cross-over of truck. Which is not the case. I like vehicles with some square corners to them. I liked the Chevy S10 Blazers of decades ago. Not all vehicles need to look like an enlarged bar of soap. Maybe give vehicles some elegance & put effort in on good design details, again, and your sales might improve. A number of people moved away from Volvo after the firm was bought by the Chinese. Their vehicles might still be produced in Sweden, Belgium, etc. But the mother company is Chinese. And Volvos might be well made vehicles but are quite pricey. And they have lost it a bit – no longer are inovators in auto design language, like they once were.
IMO they got rid of the best ones in the group.
I’m still a CT6 bigot and owner and will love it to the grave. Enough on the looks and convenience angles of the sedan is dead talk.
What about the safety and roadability of the sedan, IMHO superior to the SUV? Rollovers and all that. I have been told that the onboard computer controls have essentially eliminated those hazards that come with a high CG.
Any comments or real facts on that point?
Thx, pjl
A vehicle’s looks is not a dead topic. Ford’s Tempo & Topaz sales were lethargic. Then they came out with the new Taurus sedan & they had a hit. Sales took off. People liked the Taurus’ looks. Then Ford changed its appearance around ’94, made it resemble a jelly bean or potatoe bug, and sales went down. A good looking vehicle can increase sales enormously. Many auto companies have it right with a design, but then mess it up & then kill off the vehicle. Bentley’s Turbo Rs of the late 80s/early 90s were elegant, stately sedans. In Tokyo they were THE CAR to have if you were wealthy & seeked status. In Asakusa ware of Tokyo, Bentlies were plentiful. Now, today, 30 yrs later, Bentlies are kind of ugly. They ruined a good design.
According to various websites, reports, market surveys…I should be the perfect SUV client: early 40’s…professional…lover of travel and road trips, and someone that helps to take care of his now-retired parents.
Yet, I hate SUVs. With a passion. I find them too big…too expensive. They use too much fuel. And honestly, I like being lower to the ground. I like to feel the road, and enjoy sharper handling.
Last summer, I was in the market for a new car. The “Big 3” had nothing I was interested in. So, I visited my friendly VW dealer, and drove out in a Passat.
Needless to say, while I’d prefer to buy American, I’m happy that the imports have not given up a core market segment. Even if it’s dwindling.