Inventory of the Chevy Malibu sedan is extremely limited at the dealer level in the U.S. Just eight days’ worth of supply remained as of the first week of March 2022, GM Authority has learned.
At the beginning of March, there were 532 individual units of the Chevy Malibu on the ground, waiting for their new owners on dealer lots nationwide. An additional 956 units were in transit at the time. As previously stated, this totaled to approximately eight days’ worth of inventory across the board. Considering a 60-day supply is regarded as the most favorable amount of supply throughout the automotive industry, Chevy Malibu inventory is severely lacking.
This isn’t entirely unexpected, however. Production of the Malibu was idled for the better part of the 2021 calendar year at the GM Fairfax Assembly plant, a direct result of the ongoing global microchip shortage. Beginning in February of last year, no new units of the Chevy Malibu rolled off the assembly line until production resumed in early November. The Cadillac XT4 is assembled at the same facility, and the luxury crossover also suffered during the plant’s shutdown, resuming approximately one week after the Malibu.
In fact, the Malibu was among the vehicles that were hit hardest by the semiconductor supply issues, with 116,598 units cut as a result of the nine-month lull in production.
Unsurprisingly, sales of the Malibu plummeted last year, with the sedan accounting for just four percent market share in the Midsize Mainstream Sedan segment, down seven percentage points year-over-year. Sales fell over 75 percent, with just 7,221 individual units delivered.
Sales Numbers - Midsize Mainstream Sedans - Q4 2021 - United States
| MODEL | Q4 21 / Q4 20 | Q4 21 | Q4 20 | Q4 21 SHARE | Q4 20 SHARE | YTD 21 / YTD 20 | YTD 21 | YTD 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA CAMRY | -36.21% | 57,026 | 89,403 | 31% | 33% | +6.61% | 313,795 | 294,348 |
| HONDA ACCORD | -17.50% | 44,688 | 54,167 | 24% | 20% | +1.61% | 202,676 | 199,458 |
| NISSAN ALTIMA | +107.32% | 28,269 | 13,635 | 15% | 5% | -24.79% | 103,777 | 137,988 |
| KIA K5 | -10.12% | 18,870 | 20,994 | 10% | 8% | +191.65% | 92,326 | 31,656 |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | -46.87% | 12,682 | 23,871 | 7% | 9% | +20.97% | 93,142 | 76,997 |
| VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT | +16.50% | 7,892 | 6,774 | 4% | 3% | +6.24% | 24,396 | 22,964 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | -75.31% | 7,221 | 29,252 | 4% | 11% | -61.64% | 39,376 | 102,651 |
| SUBARU LEGACY | -43.49% | 4,071 | 7,204 | 2% | 3% | -16.42% | 22,766 | 27,240 |
| MAZDA MAZDA6 | -54.16% | 1,943 | 4,239 | 1% | 2% | +0.06% | 16,214 | 16,204 |
| FORD FUSION | -99.49% | 103 | 20,001 | 0% | 7% | -89.35% | 11,781 | 110,665 |
| CHRYSLER 200 | +397.01% | 10 | 2 | 0% | 0% | +66.67% | 15 | 9 |
| KIA OPTIMA | -100.00% | 0 | 383 | 0% | 0% | -99.97% | 16 | 48,484 |
| TOTAL | -32.29% | 182,775 | 269,925 | -13.89% | 920,280 | 1,068,664 |
Since then, production has ramped back up and is currently operating at full capacity, so Chevy Malibu inventory should continue to improve. However, some experts predict that the global microchip shortage could persist well into 2022.
Under the hood, the 2022 Chevy Malibu offers two engine options, including the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LFV gasoline engine, rated at 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, as standard. The turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG gasoline engine, rated at 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, is also available as an optional upgrade.
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Comments
If buyers switch back to more fuel efficient vehicles, what does gm have to offer them? A Trax? The Sonic and Spark are gone. The Cruze is gone. Maybe that’s why the Malibu is in short supply. There’s a whole bunch of Tahoes out there but what if they’re deemed by buyers to be too inefficient to drive with $5.00 to $7.00 gas. I know they’re betting big on EVs but then with 10 percent inflation, stagnant incomes, and many Americans dis-saving now, who can afford gm’s $75,000 to $100,000 + EVs. The Bolt is cheaper and an EV but it’s out-of-production due to fire risks. Really….what does gm have to offer?
Don’t forget the Nickel shortage.
Can’t build EV’s without it.
I assume the Malibu is in short supply because they aren’t making very many. It hasn’t exactly been a huge sales success.
OTOH, you have a point. In GM land, there really isn’t anything else resembling an efficient vehicle.
Well, that’s a stretch. IMO back 35 years or so GM made money on Regency, Park Ave, Bonnevilles, DeVilles and so and lost money on Cavalier, Celebrity, 6000 etc.. now GM do the same more or less with the trucks in the US and make profitable small cars internationally. Not saying they should offer a good mainstream car but they have no real motivation to offer a decent sedan in N/A.
Ok, but that changes nothing about what I said. They aren’t making or selling that many Malibus, and they’ve canceled anything else in our market that gets decent mileage.
No, SUVs don’t get anywhere near the mileage a sedan does.
Have they built 5 a day?, I thought production re-started a few months ago?.
2 shifts only started after Jan 2022, 6-800 per day is an average industry wide for 2 shift ops. So sounds like Q1 will be pretty good for the old steady Malibu!
Xt4 is assembled at same Fairfax plant in Kansas
Must be getting bulk of volume
No desire by gm to increase ‘Bu’s inventory
Why GM dosen’t considering import korean made Malibu? Bupyeong Malibu is providing great quality for customers. more suprisingly, they can take out goods immediately!
If I am not mistaken, without looking at my paperwork, my mom’s 2004 Chevy Aveo LS Sedan, was made at that same plant in Korea. I ordered it in January of 2004 and got it in May because we ordered it fully equipped. The fit and finish on the car was perfect. It’s silver and just turned 33,000 miles yesterday March 13, 2022. I could never figure out WHY this car never got good ratings or reviews. The car was comfortable and I thought very zippy! Not as zippy as a $90,000+ 600+ HP Cadillac, but nonetheless zippy for what it is. Recalls-two I believe. One twisted rear seatbelt and the second was for an overheating DRL Module. Are there many cars from 2004 that can make that claim in this price bracket? Anyway, a Malibu from ANYWHERE is a good move! I love my 2020 Malibu Premier that I have had since September 19, 2019 and just don’t understand WHY they don’t compare to Toyota or Honda etc. I have every option and plan to purchase my car at lease end this September, 2022. I’m not convinced that Mary Barra was the right choice for GM! Oh well. Let’s see how all this crazy SUV/EV crap works out. I wonder how everyone who thought they got a bargain the past few years with THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF $$$$$$$ off their SUVs feels now? Are they thrilled now filling up their tanks!🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
That Malibu is inferior in all ways to foreign competition , lacks safety features and reliability. You mom drives that aveo only 2k miles a year. I’m surprised time wise it lasted 18 years.
Mich1: Wrong. If you are such a GM hater, why come on a site like this?
My Malibu has every safety feature that every other car has and maybe even more! Obviously you have no clue what you’re talking about and never even saw one or drove one or had one. My mom died three years ago at the age of 106 so she hadn’t been driving for a few years. It’s an great shape for 18 years old!
The new trucks today get better MPG than most cars did in 2008.If anything this will move alot of people from 2008-14 gen 4s up to the newer 4cylinder.
“The new trucks today get better MPG than most cars did in 2008.”
In what fantasy world? GM’s trucks are lucky to get 20mpg today.
Peaky: In 2008 I was driving a 2007 Buick LaCrosse with the powerful and reliable 3800 V6. Just daily driving I was getting around 23 MPG and on a trip to Florida (form IL) I averages close to 30 MPG.
Please give examples of any trucks (GM or not) that will do that. Thank you.
My 11 Avalanche hits 23mpg on the highway and it needs a tune up. The new 1500 I4 are supposed to be high 20s, and the Colorado Diesel hits 32 on highway Back in 08 many cars were big V6s and were lucky to be 28mpg on the freeway.
Multi-overdrives and direct injection made a big difference that most didn’t have in 2008.
An effective cheap 6 with a plus-HP hybrid option, and a high-mpg hybrid alternative would cover the ground for Malibu and most of GM’s crossovers, if they’d swallow some pride.
Peaky: I’ve been around Cadillac’s and Buick’s most of my time in the auto business. My parents owned numerous of each. The 1975 DeVille they had would do upper teens on the highway. Their 79 DeVille would hit low 20’s highway. After that, they went to an 85 Park Avenue with the 3800 and would get over 30 highway. Every Buick from that one on would do around 30 highway. I’ve also sold hundreds of Buicks over the years and I have story after story of customers hitting low to mid 30’s highway and mid to low 20’s in town.
Coming from a farm family in the mid-west, I have a lot of family and friends with trucks. Of the bunch, the one brother with a Ram 1500 with 3.0 diesel (4×4) can’t quite hit 30 highway. So yes, there may be examples of trucks out there (now) that can do better, but the sedan’s are still better by a long shot.
The point I was broadly making is that trucks are way better than 12 years ago. Thank you for pointing out that 30mpg was common on new cars back then. I bought a first gen Equinox…my 99 Suburban 5.7 4wd got better mpg on the highway. But the 220$ fill ups were a huge pain.
As recently as last week SUVs were still selling well over sticker for the best models. Those that can afford 70-100k SUVs can afford 7$ gasoline. Where the demand for gas in US is beyond me with nearly 20M people working from home still/permanently there should be a glut of gasoline.
They have never claimed there was a shortage of gas….. But that doesn’t stop them from raising the price though.
Hmmmm. We know what GM will do. They will say sales are bad and then axe it.
I read a long time ago that they already plan to ax it in 2023 that will be the last year for the Malibu.
According to this site 2024.
I owned a 2006 Aveo. It was extremely cheap. It wasn’t a terrible car, but it was just incredibly cheap in every way.
It wasn’t zippy. It was ok for a cheap car.
Chinese Buick Regal is better. Would you buy one?
No imports for us, it has to be built in U.S.A. for U.S.A. workers to be employed!
r/whoosh… :/
For a couple years now on this page we’ve been hearing gm’s strategy to concentrate on high demand, high profit trucks and suv’s. That “demand” was always something that could change quickly. What do have to offer when it does, CT4?.
With the cost of gas going up and up GM should start building this car ASAP. The Malibu gets decent gas mileage and that’s what the consumer needs and wants.
Bring back the Malibu Hybrid! With these high gas prices I’m so glad I have mine.
It was a “mild” hybrid. Wasted effort.
Jimbo: I agree with you. Although the Malibu was a “mild” hybrid, it still did better than the regular one. Where the mild-hybrid made the biggest difference was with in town driving. I know my car thus far does fantastic on the highway, but it’s the stop/go traffic that takes my MPG’s down.
Do you have that stop/start feature on yours Dan?
Larry: Yes, mine is a 2021 with it. Going back a few years, I had a 2014 Malibu LS with it (but with zero way to turn it off!!). I hated that and it’s the exact reason why I got rid of it. I’ve been in a lot of different brands with it and that 2014 Malibu’s was the most annoying.
However, thus far I am pleasantly surprised with the system on this 2021. There are times when I forget it’s on (normally I still turn it off) and I don’t realize it shuts off and re-starts. This is a much improved system, but I’m super happy it has the on/off button right in the center of the dash.
Nice glad you’re enjoying it. I’m looking to get one as well. I’m not a fan of the start/stop feature either so I’m glad to hear you can disable it.
Larry, I ordered a 2022 Malibu Premier to avoid the start/stop nonsense. I hope it arrives before the 2023s go on sale. LOL
kandr: The premier doesn’t have it because of the 2.0L? I didn’t realize that. When I had the 2020 Cadillac CT4 with the 2.0, it had the start/stop but with a button on the center console.
I hope you get your car soon! What will it replace?
Larry: I can honestly say that I’ve actually been leaving it on now with gas prices so high. It really is 1000 times better than the 2014’s. But yes, I’m still quite happy that they gave it the on/off button and it’s not hidden like some. It’s directly in front of the shift lever below the screen.
Good luck getting one. Only had this car for 3 weeks now, but liking it a lot and it measures up well against the much more expensive Volvo that it replaced.
I have a 2017 Malibu, perfect family car. Want a new one! None in Stock!, GM wants me to buy a 4 Door Cadillac 4 wheel Drive Truck with 5 &1/2 foot bed! Might be time to check out a Camry, Corolla, Hundai, Kia, Subaru, Ford Focus, or what ever Volkswagen is selling! Could GM be getting a commission to stop building the Malibu????
DR.B: I just love how people love to make comments promoting the purchase of an import brand for any reason at all. You just mentioned the following cars:
Camry: Yes, still made but also near impossible to find.
Corolla: Same as Camry.
Hundai: Short on supply and hard to find any.
Kia: Same as Hyndai.
Ford Focus: Hasn’t been made in about 2 years now.
VW: Passat just pulled from US market from what I read. Good luck finding a Jetta.
I just purchased a 2021 Malibu and am finding it quite nice thus far. Better than I expected. You can find them and you can buy them, but it might take a little more time. But ALL the brands are short on supply at this time.
You sound quite confident in what you say.
I think you’re wrong though.
I live in Michigan in an area where there are far more domestic dealers than foreign.
In a 50 miles radius of me there are 26 new Camrys, 12 new Elantras, 4 new Sonatas, 6 new accords, and 0 new Malibus.
I’m sure I could go through other models and all the Kias as well (3 K5s).
Nate: That could very well be. Where I’m at in southern California, I’m going by what our dealership has along with what I hear from the brokers we deal with. They are constantly telling us that they can’t find or get any of those cars. When some do arrive, they are usually pre-sold or people are waiting for them to come in and then buy them up fast. I was lucky because the dealer I got my Malibu from is a dealer I’ve purchased from before. I have a good relationship with my guy there and he actually called me to let me know the car was there if I wanted it.
Point being that every brand all over the country is having the same problem. Everyone is begging for more product (no matter if a car or SUV or truck).
Yup I was trying to get a Corolla from the dealership in my area they told me I had to preorder it, the guy said everything coming off the trucks are sold. And they want absurd prices for the used vehicles.
Well so I checked my old address in San Diego, same criteria of 50 miles.
5 new Malibus, 168 Camrys, 92 Corollas.
I’m going to conclude this article is correct about the Malibu, and Toyota (and probably everyone else) is doing a much better job of availability.
Nate: If you don’t mind me asking, what are you checking when you get these numbers? I haven’t done this for any Toyota models, but if I go on Chevrolet’s website and do a search by zip code with a 50 mile radius, it shows 21 of the 2021 Malibu’s and 158 of the 2022 models. Of course, some of those are in transit or limbo I’m sure, but that’s what I’m basing my info on. Plus what our brokers are saying. These are the people who are in constant contact with all the dealers and trying to find cars for customers.
I’m looking at what the dealerships are advertising on Autotrader.
Ah. I don’t know what would be the most reliable source for inventory (other than looking on each dealer’s website). I do know that Autotrader never seems to be kept updated on what’s for sale. Of course, this would have been me looking for some older used cars in the not so distant past. I’d reach out about cars and seldom would the sellers get back to me. The few times I actually called, I was told that car was sold long ago. Hmm.
I have found the brand’s website inventory search to be somewhat more accurate and it helped me find my Malibu. I’d assume most all brand websites would work about the same.
California is its own world. They avoid American car brands there like a religion. And GM knows this.
Peaky: Boy, you got that right! It drives me nuts because I’m really about buying and supporting the American brands in whatever way possible. When I lived in the mid-west, I sold at a GM/Honda store and did well with the GM’s. When I moved to Southern Cali, I tried selling at a Cadillac only store with no luck. Then I tried at a Chevy store. Same thing, and I would have starved. It’s why I ended up at the Volvo/Mazda store working in the fleet department and nearly all our business is working with brokers. So I don’t really sell any more, but my point is that out here they all act like buying an import brand is all about image. Sickening to me.
So I own a 2017 Malibu 1LT. My wife and I love the car. It gets great fuel mileage, the built quality is first rate, and the biggest surprise is how well it handles. A family car should not handle this well. Chevy took 400 hundred pounds of this generation compared to the last generation and it shows. I also love the styling. Last, we have had no warranty issues. I think the Malibu is the best kept secret in the mid-size car market. I have owned Honda’s and Toyota’s. Great cars but the Malibu doesn’t take a backseat to any of them. I also own two Lexus LS models and Cadillac Black Wing. The Caddy is my favorite.
Malibu is mostly a fleet vehicle. Will no longer build to fill dealer lots. On demand and by online build until it phases out in 2024. The two shift plant after being idle for so long had a slow start up. There are several systems and safety checks and suppliers have the same start up lags. Production will continue to improve over time. The biggest challenge with manufacturing jobs is the entry level pay is no longer as competitive.
My comments are only based off my personal experience. I’m very satisfied with the Malibu. Cheers!!!
I love my ’19 Premier. Love it. I’ve been considering trading it in for a 22 model (Premier) but they’re next to impossible to find and the ones that are available have content deleted due to the chip shortage. I’m not buying this “well in 2021 they only sold THIS many”….they only sold “this many” because they stopped making them for months on end so there were none to buy. I still think there is a market for the Malibu and not simply as “rentals”. I think GM has just decided they want to sell SUVs/Trucks/CUVs and they’re doing everything they can to kill the Malibu. Camaro will be next. Have you tried looking for a Spark in stock? Next to impossible to find one even though they’re supposedly going to continue to build them thru August, 2022. Short sighted planning.
Billy: I was looking for a Spark for some time and wanted to get a 2022 with 2LT and auto with that safety package. Zero luck and the few I did find out there were 1LT or LS and the dealers were adding about $2,000 to the MSRP! Just seems kind of silly to pay nearly 13% of the MSRP more just for a basic car. On top of that, once I read on GMA that the Spark was done after this August, I gave up. That’s when I started looking at the Malibu and ended up getting a fantastic deal on mine by financing through GM Financial with the 0%.
Dan….we had a 15 Spark 2LT (previous generation) with a manual as our “commuter” and really enjoyed it…we started looking several months ago for a ’21 2LT with an auto and safety as well. No luck. I did a search on chevrolet.com the other day and even on their site they showed ONE Spark in the entire country and it was an LS. Crazy times.
I build these.
Awesome. I’m looking to buy a premier
in blue
I’m hoping to get my ordered blue Premier soon, like before 2023.
Former employee of mine with 3 young kids had an Impala which he loved (also owning many Impala’s back to 70’s). With his growing family they bought a 2021 Chevy Suburban. He said, they have parked behind their house for now. Filling up the tank was not worth driving. They just bought a 2019 Impala to use for daily drive.
wouldn’t it be cheaper to buy gas than spend several grand on a car, which also needs gas?
B: In the auto business, we see this type of thing a lot. Gas prices go up and once it hits a certain point people just freak out. A buddy and I got into a (minor) argument over this very thing. My points were: You gotta buy the car. Second, you still have to put gas in that one. Third, you have one extra insurance/maintenance/upkeep. Lastly, you have one more registration to deal with.
People seldom work the numbers out on paper to see just how silly it is to buy another car for better MPG. For $3,000 you can buy one heck of a lot of gas! The best thing to do is just drive slower, drive less and make sure your tires are properly inflated.
Shane & Cindy have just sold their 2021 Chevy Suburban and made a $6,000.00 profit over what they paid for it new. Wow great market for used vehicles apparently!
I wish GM would’ve advertised the hybrid Malibu more, it got a little over 40MPG. I was in trim and seen them installing batteries in the trunk, oh we have a hybrid didn’t kno.
Ordered a 2022 Malibu mid Feb. No updates on it yet. We are almost 3 months in. Wondering if going to get it at all?
Has your dealer order been accepted by GM? Getting an allocation is a big milestone.
Ordered a 2022 Malibu in May, 2021. It was built the end of Jan, 2022. We just took delivery last Friday. Three months for shipping! You have not waited long enough. 🤨
I’m not surprised the Malibu came to its current state. The lower trims are undesirable, with carpet lining the dash, and armrests and an anemic 1.5t engine. They don’t even attract buyers to it by adding safety features that are standard on competitor’s. Sure people can argue that it’s the lowest base price and lightest in the segment. But look at where that strategy got it. It’s starting to fall behind. The Malibu went from being 4th or 5th place in the segment to now lagging behind the competition. It doesn’t have a competitive interior, it doesn’t have a competitive base power plant, and it doesn’t have competitive standard features. There’s smaller less profitable manufacturers making sedans some with multiple sedans in the lineup. They don’t sells many trucks as the big three to make big profit, some don’t even have trucks to sell to make profit. At least in the US anyway. Yet they are still manufacturing sedans. There’s a market out there, it’s gotten smaller sure. But a way manufacturers have been combating that is making the sedans more sporty while trying to maintain affordability.