Inventory of the Chevy Malibu sedan is now at 26 days supply at the beginning of October, GM Authority has learned from sources familiar with GM’s inventory situation. Specifically, 6,549 individual units were on the ground at U.S. dealers and an additional 8,184 units were in transit.
Malibu inventory was at eight days in early May 2022, with 165 units on the ground and 1,069 units in transit, and also at eight days at the beginning of March 2022, with 532 units on the ground and 956 units in transit. A 60-day supply was considered optimal in the U.S. auto industry prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the global parts supply shortage.
The improvement in supply is the result of GM accepting more new sold orders, processing roughly 20,000 additional orders for the Chevy Malibu this past May to get more examples of the midsize sedan to dealers. Production of the four-door was idled for the better part of the 2021 calendar year due to the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage.
Sales of the Malibu have rebounded accordingly, with 79,799 deliveries during the first three quarters of the year, up a very healthy 148 percent to place fourth with a 13 percent share in the midsize mainstream sedan segment when ranked by sales volume.
The Toyota Camry took top honors with 214,403 units sold through Q3 2022 with a 17 percent slide in sales, followed by the Honda Accord in second place with a 30 percent drop to 110,463 units and the Nissan Altima in third with a 41 percent bump to 106,122 units.
Sales Numbers - Midsize Mainstream Sedans - 2022 - United States
| MODEL | YTD 22 / YTD 21 | YTD 22 | YTD 21 | YTD 22 SHARE | YTD 21 SHARE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOYOTA CAMRY | -16.50% | 214,403 | 256,769 | 35% | 36% |
| HONDA ACCORD | -30.08% | 110,463 | 157,988 | 18% | 22% |
| NISSAN ALTIMA | +40.54% | 106,122 | 75,508 | 17% | 11% |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | +148.17% | 79,799 | 32,155 | 13% | 5% |
| KIA K5 | -27.08% | 53,563 | 73,456 | 9% | 10% |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | -56.20% | 35,238 | 80,460 | 6% | 11% |
| SUBARU LEGACY | -8.22% | 17,159 | 18,695 | 3% | 3% |
| MAZDA MAZDA6 | -97.65% | 335 | 14,271 | 0% | 2% |
| CHRYSLER 200 | -60.00% | 2 | 5 | 0% | 0% |
| TOTAL | -13.00% | 617,084 | 709,307 |
The 2022 Chevy Malibu is the seventh model year of the nameplate’s ninth generation, with minor changes that include the deletion of several dealer-installed accessories along with the discontinuation of the base L trim level, making the LS the new entry-level trim.
The 2023 Chevy Malibu ushers in a variety of important changes and updates compared to the preceding 2022 model year. The midsize sedan will no longer offer the Premier trim level nor the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LTG gasoline engine that powered it along with the GM 9-speed automatic transmission. Going forward, the 2023 Malibu is available exclusively with the turbocharged 1.5L I4 LFV gasoline engine, which mates to the MRG continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This combination was previously offered for all 2022 model-year Chevy Malibu trim levels, with the exception of the Premier. Output is rated at 163 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque.
Chevy has now repackaged the Premier as the new 2LT trim level. As a result, the 2023 Malibu’s top trim now costs $2,000 less than that of the 2022 model. Additionally, two of the Malibu’s dealer-installed convenience packages are no longer available to order.
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Comments
Now if GM would just advertise/promote the Malibu, maybe sales would go up even more and the 26 days supply would drop even more. Instead, every time you turn on the TV there’s an advertisement for the Silverado or Equinox. Maybe some of the new and upcoming EV’s. But never the Malibu.
Two things I’d like to see GM do. First, offer the Malibu in a PHEV format like the Volt was. Second, give Buick a version of it and give those of us who like sedans a car to buy at the Buick store.
That what I would do. I would even do a complete redesign on the same platform with up to date interior tech and materials. You would have a choice of 2.0l turbo and the 175hp 203tq 1.5 turbo along with a Voltec hybrid. But GM will never commit to such an investment. As for Buick, it needs its own built for Ultium system platform sedan with both Voltec hybrid and full EV variants.
I have a ’21 Malibu Premier and love it. Chock full of features. Its a shame GM is letting this one dwindle away. All these car company’s IMO will fail.
Sedans really are an endangered species.
Eliminating the only engine and transmission option that can help this car to get out of it’s own way made me lose all interest in it. I suspect that will do the same for many others.
A deliberate plan by GM.
BillB: Have you driven the 1.5? I’m seriously not able to understand why there’s so much negativity around this car and the 1.5 turbo. I have now put about 8,000 miles on mine. Zero issues. Zero times where I’ve felt it is under powered. It delivers fantastic MPG both in city and especially on the highway. It’s comfortable and quiet. And having driven two different Cadillac XT4’s with the 2.0 and 9 speed, I wouldn’t trade even up for one of them against my Malibu!
This desire for more and more power is out of control. Everyone wants to race and speed down the road like they just car-jacked someone and are running from the police. If you want so much power and speed, buy an EV.
Dan B: Yes, I have driven the 1.5T in a couple of different GM vehicles. Sadly it’s the only optional engine available in the Equinox now too which caused me to stop considering one. I am not suggesting that GM force you to buy a bigger engine. I am saying that I don’t find it a comfortable fit for me. I want the option to get something with a bit more ability then the 1.5 in an otherwise great car.
I’m no Boy Racer. I’m in my 70s. I will only purchase an engine that allows me to pass a car on a two lane highway without worrying that the speck on the horizon will grow too fast and force me to abandon my attempt before I can safely finish passing. I’ve driven cars like that and I wouldn’t own one on purpose. The weird thing is that GM offered better alternatives until very recently then decided to stop. Why?
A 2.5 with a whistle(turbo) and some nice leather/trim parts and 42k$ Chevelle edition would thrill a few hundred thousand sedan enthusiasts .. just sayin!! :))
I was ready to trade in my Great 2017 & buy a new 2022 Malibu! Assy Plant Closed, None in stock?? Just installed 4 new tires on 2017 at 34,000 miles! Another SALE LOST!
MAYBE I WILL SEE YOU IN 5 MORE YEARS!
We had a Chevy Malibu as a rental a while back and was surprised how good the car actually is. I love my Chevy trucks and SUVs but we are now thinking of the Malibu as a secondary car. I would love to see a Malibu/Chevelle SS before it is gone, let the engineers loose like they did with Caddy V series, Camaro and Vette. It would be nice to see 6.2 awd Chevelle SS. I should have never sold my 1970 Chevelle SS454 back in the day …
I drove a 2022 Malibu as a rental car for two-weeks. What a terrible car. Uncomfortable and difficult to get in and out of for this 71-year-old. The low-beam headlights were the worst I have used in a car since the adoption of sealed-beam headlamps in 1940. I turned the car back in and downgraded to a Nissan Sentra. A little noisier and the CVT a bit rougher, but all around a better driving car with much better headlights and technology. General Motors has really dropped the ball.