After the COVID pandemic created havoc with the supply chain throughout the automotive industry, production on the Chevrolet Malibu is set to restart on November 1.
Broken Links in the Supply Chain
With many automakers announcing the end of production on passenger sedans, many consumers may have assumed that the Chevy Malibu was caught up in that purge. But General Motors/Chevrolet had no intention to stop making this car.
The global COVID pandemic had a far-reaching impact on hundreds of industries, and many are still feeling the effects. With offices closing around the world, workers needed to upgrade their computers in order to work from home. This forced semiconductor chip manufacturers to pivot production to chips for smartphones, tablets, desktop and laptop computers, and other computerized home office equipment.
The reallocation effectively cut off the supply of computer chips to automakers around the world, including General Motors. You may be surprised to learn just how much modern vehicles rely on these chips to run various systems throughout the car. Without microchips, everything from your car’s infotainment and navigation to its fuel injection and other critical systems are crippled.
Those semiconductor chips that were allocated to GM were shifted to more popular models, including SUVs and full-size trucks. Without these essential components available, production on the Chevy Malibu was halted in February 2021. GM also paused production of the Cadillac XT4, which is made at the same Fairfax assembly facility as the Malibu.
Although we continue to hear about problems in dozens of industries (some even threatening to ruin Christmas), GM is reopening the production line for the Malibu beginning November 1st and expects to ramp up production in December.
What’s New for the 2022 Malibu
Now that production on the Malibu is restarting (the Cadillac XT4 resumed assembly back in September), what can we expect for the 2022 Chevrolet sedan?
According to the automaker, some changes to look out for include:
- The base L model is discontinued. The LS will now be the entry-level trim in the Malibu lineup
- GM is adding exterior paint options including Mineral Gray Metallic and Dark Ash Metallic and will no longer offer Shadow Gray Metallic and Black Cherry Metallic
- An electronic parking brake is now standard across all trims
- Optional dealer-installed accessories including the cargo area organizer, rear window shades, and the sport pedal kit are no longer offered
No changes are expected to the powertrains. The 160-horsepower, 1.5L turbocharged engine remains standard, with a beefier 2.0L 250-horsepower option available. There are no plans to bring back the Chevy Malibu Hybrid model.
Waiting to Exhale
It’s been a long year for everyone connected to the automobile value chain, from suppliers to assembly workers to dealers to car shoppers. And with fuel prices on the rise (again), drivers are looking for more fuel-efficient options for their daily commutes.
With production restarting on the Chevrolet Malibu, car dealers and shoppers hope it eases the pressure on the supply of new and used vehicles. Everyone is holding their breath, hoping that there won’t be any further disruptions to production.
This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning a commission is given should you decide to make a purchase through these links, at no cost to you. All products shown are researched and tested to give an accurate review for you.
