Citing increased inventory levels, GM has announced that production of the 2010 Chevy Malibu hybrid have been suspended.
Apparently inventory levels are high enough of the 2009 Malibu hybrid, that GM doesn't need to produce any more at the vehicle's current selling rate. GM's hybrid spokesman Brian Corbett recently told AutoblogGreen that there are no plans to produce any of the mild hybrid models:
"There will be some MY2010 production. We will fulfill some MY2010 fleet orders for the Malibu Hybrid. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding between GM and Penske Automotive Group, Saturn plans to offer the Aura, Vue and Outlook models in 2010. Specific details of which versions (i.e. hybrids) has not yet been determined. "
Full Story: Autoblog
GM STATEMENT:
Production of the 2010 Malibu Hybrid model is being suspended due to elevated inventory levels of the 2009 model.
The inventory levels of the 2009 Malibu Hybrid will provide adequate product in the marketplace. This decision will have no implication on other 2010 Malibu offerings or Chevrolet hybrids.
Please know service for 2008-2009 Malibu Hybrid vehicles will not be an issue due to an adequate supply of batteries obtained by General Motors. The hybrid system components continue to be covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty and all current and future Chevrolet customers will receive the usual service maintenance on remaining Malibu Hybrids.
Comments (9)
A damn mess...
Posted by gilly | June 11, 2009 1:12 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 13:12
About time.
These were the laughing stock of every hybrid comparison test I've read in the auto mags...as they should be.
GM's idiotic PR:
"We need something that says Hybrid on it, even if it's not on the same playing field as Japanese Hybrids."
Posted by Noya | June 11, 2009 1:19 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 13:19
Mild was better than none!
Kind of sucks that they are stopping production, maybe they should have lowered the price point and also integrate the technology into higher trim levels...
Posted by Andrew | June 11, 2009 6:29 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 18:29
As I understand it, the Malibu Hybrid increased the mileage to be on par with other manufacturer's non-hybrid designs.
That, my friends, is an epic fail.
Posted by SEALBoy | June 11, 2009 7:50 PM
Posted on June 11, 2009 19:50
GM should really think about taking all of their cars and adding a hybrid platform to them. Then slowly remove the older gas only options so they become the only car company to have a hybrid only fleet of cars and trucks.
I currently get about 44 - 48 mpg so my current hybrid and in terms of technology, you don't notice a huge difference in performance and handling.
Posted by Andrew | June 12, 2009 5:48 AM
Posted on June 12, 2009 05:48
@Andrew:
44-48 mpg is crap.
and driveablity? if you're a carrot yeah, it drives fine.
Posted by papabear | June 12, 2009 1:27 PM
Posted on June 12, 2009 13:27
@ Andrew
The GM "hybrids" got about 2mpg more than the regular car, yet cost a few thousand more. It would take driving an insane number of miles to break even on gas savings.
They only put them out there to try to con uneducated people into buying them thinking "ooh, hybrid means lots of mpg!".
Posted by Totenglocke | June 14, 2009 5:24 PM
Posted on June 14, 2009 17:24
@papabear
I don't know what you think good MPG (Miles per Gallon) is, but please enlighten me what it should be...
I have owned many cars in the past, they all pretty much do the same thing, get me from point A to point B.
@Totenglocke,
I understand that thier Hybrid implementation wasn't as good as the Honda/Toyota combination, but if GM would just eliminate the regular gas only options in their line up and replace them with hybrid engines, it would really show a turn around for GM. The only company with all hybrids in their cars!
Sure, it won't get the same MPGs as toyota or honda, but over time they could market different types of hybrid engines to cater to different groups.
Posted by Andrew | June 18, 2009 11:44 AM
Posted on June 18, 2009 11:44
wiri nasakuka nakury
WIRY NASAKUKA NAKURY
Posted by Casimiro Rokalachi Wilankes | February 17, 2010 6:43 AM
Posted on February 17, 2010 06:43