GM is temporarily laying off roughly 680 employees at the GM Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas City as the facility ends production of the Chevy Malibu. The facility will next be retooled for production of the upcoming next-generation Chevy Bolt EV, with plans to reopen next year. Affected employees will be supported according to the provisions outlined in the latest agreement between GM and the United Auto Workers (UAW) labor union.
“As previously announced in May, GM is investing approximately $390 million in our Fairfax Assembly Plant to add production of the new Chevrolet Bolt EV,” said GM spokesman Kevin Kelly, per a report from Detroit Free Press. “To facilitate the installation of new tooling, employees will be placed on a temporary layoff until production resumes in mid-2025.”
The layoffs will begin November 18th, 2024. The GM Fairfax production facility also produces the Cadillac XT4, the production of which will be paused after January 2025. With production of the XT4 put on hold, the facility will undergo the retooling process required for production of the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV.
The Chevy Malibu is currently in its ninth generation, with the 2025 model year expected to be its last, marking the departure of one of the few remaining ICE-based sedans in the U.S. auto market. General Motors is expected to launch an all-new, next-generation Malibu in time for a debut for the 2026 or 2027 model year.
Following the production pause, the Fairfax facility will be retooled to produce both the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV and the Cadillac XT4 on the same assembly line, which is expected to provide the automaker with greater flexibility to respond to fluctuating customer demand.
Looking ahead, the next-generation Chevy Bolt EV will incorporate GM’s Ultium battery-electric propulsion system and is expected to offer improved performance and greater affordability than the current model. By comparison, the current Bolt rides on the GM BEV2 platform and is rated at 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, with production previously taking place at the GM Lake Orion Assembly plant.
Comments
Now, its too bad that Chevrolet did not update the Malibu. The Anemic powertrain especially, with a volt like hybrid system.
” General Motors is expected to launch an all-new, next-generation Malibu in time for a debut for the 2026 or 2027 model year.”
Hybrid for the next gen, probably.
Any sources for this kinda information?
I wouldn’t call the 1.5T and CVT anemic. I have a 2023 rental LT for the next few weeks and it has really surprised me. It has no trouble at all moving smartly off the line or passing on a 2 lane highway. To put things into perspective I had a 1996 Lumina LS with the 3.4 TwinCam V6 and 215 HP tied to the old 4T60 transmission. This Malibu with its paltry little 1.5T and only 163 HP feels basically just as quick and that plays out on the 0-60 times of 7.8 seconds which is identical for both cars. The Malibu’s very light weight of around 3100 LBS and the CVT work wonders for this little motor.
So after complaining endlessly about the 1.5 and hating on it since its release, you finally tried it.
Hopefully you’ll learn to keep a more open mind in the future. Maybe try an EV and you’ll really be blown away.
Longevity is the concern here GMC Fan. Let’s see if they survive every day use and abuse after 3-5 years.
Then there’s the trade-in disadvantage.
You’re purposely not looking at the big picture.
You’re right about being blown away. Did you see what happened to the Tesla in a head-on collision on M-14 in Michigan 2 days ago? Google Tesla M-14 accident. It burned the driver like a barbeque on the 4th of July. It was blown away. The fire blanket was even blown away.
I just bought a new 2024 Malibu LT about 6 weeks ago and the engine to me is very peppy, no problems driving fast on the Interstate etc.. Have to say, the only thing I do not like is that the “start-stop” can only be turned off with a per drive over-ride button, I wish they had put an option in the vehicle controls to turn it off, period.
That’s why I bought the Malibu’s evil twin. Buick regal GS.
Had a beautiful white 14 Regal GS. Very nice car, but a number of things turned me off in the end.
The dreaded piston issue that was published, expensive LED lighting (headlight capsules among others), and that lower front nose hit and tried to hook onto everything. Bad styling design on those front nose covers. Lastly, every piece of interior plastic was designed to rattle or vibrate to the point of serious psychotic annoyance.
Otherwise, a really fun car to drive.
They made a current-generation Malibu with a Volt-like Hybrid, same Volt transmission, larger ICE engine, smaller battery, no plug. It drove great! But they discontinued it not long after; it was a tough sell in a crowded market. They should bring it back immediately and throw it on the new Equinox slap the Hybrid badge on it, maybe even an actual Plug!
no tienen trabajos
Pathetic about the Malibu. Yes, a new Bolt is important but not at the expense of the Malibu. GM, like every other automaker, has a VERY cloudy crystal ball. Gen Z apparently loves small and medium-sized sedans (and maybe wagons too) and GM ignores them as if they don’t exist. No way to run a business and I hope they all suffer, BIG TIME.
Reading comprehension is key..
“General Motors is expected to launch an all-new, next-generation Malibu in time for a debut for the 2026 or 2027 model year.”
Geoff: It’s easy to quote the article and of course none of us really know, but I’ll take that statement from GM with a grain of salt. So I will agree with Beachy on this one.
We need a new Bolt NOW!! And, we also need to keep the Malibu around. It’s not acceptable that they “say” the new gen Malibu will be out for the 2026/27 model year. That’s way too long.
I mean…Why would they want to leave Malibu with “gap years”, when Malibu was selling so well (#3 in segment, #3 best selling Chevrolet model)
If the new gen not ready, fine, why not keep the current one (Which is a superb car) rolling…Why let go???
That’s like leaving money on table for Japanese and Korean competitors to take over
Snoopy: Exactly. If this was the Silverado, you would see a “Classic” or some “limited edition” of the old body while they ramp up the new one. Then you would see them sell both side by side for at least one model year.
It’s beyond clear where GM’s attention is at and the value (lack of) they place on the cars like the Bolt and Malibu. They should have never killed the Bolt and should have continued the 2023 Bolt into the 2024 model year and maybe even a short 2025 run. I am shocked (pun intended) at how much I love my 2023 Bolt. And yet, one of my favorite cars ever was my 2021 Malibu. So if I could buy the current Malibu with the Bolt EV’s powertrain, I would be happier than a pig in fresh mud.
My last Malibu was in 1972 but I do have a Bolt in my garage and am very glad it is returning. My 2020 Bolt has been problem free since I drove it home. My only problem is how bad the dealership sucks.
Bring back the Impala!!!
I’m eagerly waiting to see more info and pics on the new Bolt coming out soon. However, this is sad for me as I feel the Malibu is a great car and one of the only sedans GM has left.
I sure hope GM is being real about a new Malibu (PHEV and EV please) coming out in 2026 or 2027. However, I’m not holding my breath.
NEXT…
GM Korea’s Bupyeong 2 Facility has halted production since November 27, 2022. BP2 had produce Malibu as a good quality. until the complete of next generation model, I hope the reproduction of E2XX malibu at BP2.
General Motors is married to big SUV’s and pickups and decrease profits on EV’s! They have given up on every sedan Impala, Lacrosse, Cruze, Camaro and now the Malibu. It is mentioned the Malibu will be back in 2026 or 2027 but I don’t believe that to be true. If so it will be built where labor costs are below USA standards like Mexico, China or Korea. I would never buy one built outside the USA. I have owned 4 Malibu’s all built in the USA and still own one now built in Fairfax and it is great transportation at a very low cost. If GM could sell only Escalades, Tahoes and Suburbans they would. This is where all their profit is. They have given up on the cars of the past that made them a leader shame on this Company!
gm ignores the 500,000+ Camry, Accord, and Corolla market. Even more when you bring Hyundai and Kia offerings.
That’s insane to me, and it screams poor leadeship and/or government meddling. Sorry Mary lovers, that’s poor leadership 101.
If the next gen Malibu is EV I pass.
The Chevelle/Malibu was an attractive Sedan…. If I didn’t have so many EVs at the moment I would pick one up just to have it.
The things I don’t like about it are a turbo charged engine, and a CVT.
But those negatives I’d accept just to get a copy of a nice Chevy…. The CT4 and CT5 sedans from CADDY just leave me cold…
So will GM ever come out with another attractive Sedan even if it is an EV?
In the past whenever they came out with an attractive, Stylish product, such as the very competent 2014, and 2016 ELR, they quickly discontinued it after 8 months of production in 2014 and 3 months in 2016.
Of course, 10 years later, now they want to do PHEVs again. Like little kids they can’t make up their minds, but seeing as they are ostensibly adults, they just blow $millions of the corporation’s money.
Any sedan looks better than any cuv/suv, period. Our black Impala LTZ is right up there with the CT6 in the looks dept.
Employee Safety,
Notice the effective use of cut resistant protective gloves, sleeves and proper eye protection with side shields.
Photos also show effective ergonomic assist device as well as appropriate hand held tool use.
The 2.0 Malibu should not have been discontinued. Very quick and smooth
Unless you want that OT I would love to report to a barstool instead of assembly line and get still get my pay.
I hope it will be produced in Korea if the next generation Malibu is released. I currently have Malibu 2.0, but I can’t forget the characteristics of Chevrolet alone. I plan to buy the next generation Malibu if it is released.