General Motors Corp. has pulled the plug the hybrid-electric version of the Chevrolet Malibu sedan for the 2010 model year due to slow sales that has led to a backlog of inventory of the vehicles on dealer lots. A GM spokesman said the company made the decision because of a "sufficient stock of 2009s," and said starting up production in the near future is "possible, but not likely." The company will continue to make hybrid versions of the Malibu for fleet buyers, but it is uncertain if GM will ever produce the Malibu hybrid for retail consumers ever again. GM Pulls Plug on Hybrid Model - WSJ.com
So even in the midst of reorganization, the 'spin' continues. "Sufficient stock". Uh, is that the same as saying, "This stuff aint sellin' to save our life" ?? "possible, but not likely." Hopefully that won't be the new reorganized GM success slogan.
Don't bother me. I'd never buy a hybrid anyways. If I was in business and saw that sales were lacking on a certain vehicle I'm manufacturing, And there is zero demand for it. Why not dump it and move on? Chevy sold 64,363 from the early part of the year through May, And only 2,142 of them were a hybrid version.
The government agreed to purchase 2,000 as part of the bailout. Based on the drastic spike in Malibu numbers, May could have accounted for 700 of them. .
I didn't even know the had a malibu hybrid! Not that i'd buy one. I haven't liked the Malibu since the were called Chevelles.
I suspect he secretly wants one but isn't tough enough to go against the jibes he would get from his Neanderthal work mates in the shelf packing section of Wall-mart.
Hi All, I think the issue with the Malibu Hybrid , was they called it a Hybrid. If it was the standard vehicle Malibu, all Malibu's like this, with a small battery and maybe an optional big battery (the size they used), I think the Malibu (stealth hybrid) would have been a great success. The low production volume made the Malibu Hybrid too expensive, with an increase in cost similar to a Prius, for about 1/3 the functionality and 2/3 the maintenaince cost reduction. And as Jimmie indcates - the FUD marketers have had an impact. By not calling the Malibu Hybrid, a Hybrid, but just a Malibu with a auto start/stop, and made all the Malibu's that way - it would have sold just fine - better? - and cost dramatically less.
The car looks nice, but I can't get over the fact that the bumper has to be dropped just to replace a headlight bulb. At least on the regular Malibu. I helped a friend do it. What a PITA. The manual said "see dealer" for service.
The manual for changing a Prius bulb is the same. Drop the bumper. But you can just reach in there and replace it if you know what you're doing.
Why is this zombie thread resurected. GM simply discontinued one mild hybrid system and went with the malibu e-assist. They didn't kill it, but it is nowhere near the efficiency of the 2013 camry or fusion hybrid, it does not even make it to the cvt altima. Compare Side-by-Side always with epa figures YMMV, and publications like consumer reports have driving habits that give a much lower mpg boost to hybrids. With in hybrids CR only gets 1 more mpg in the fusion than the camry, and this is dependent on driving - city (fusion advantage) or highway (camry advantage).
Yep, you are right about that one. I didn't drop the bumper and struggled for an hour and a half trying to reinstall the drivers' side headlight. Finally, got it done. Next time, I'll depower the air bag circuit, remove front bumper cover, and replace the burnt out light assy. DBCassidy
I really don't understand why GM almost always does the wrong move regarding hybrids, altough I like the Volt.
GM's issue across their line up appears to be weight. They know they have to cut the bloat, but that doesn't help current models.
They already have with investments in aluminum manufacturer. GM holds a patent on a welding process that means less non-pass welds. The traditional solution was rivets that added weight and reduced the recyclibility of the aluminum.
