GM Might Kill Off 6 Models, Including the Cadillac CT6, Chevy Volt, and Chevy Impala

Why? Here’s a hint: None of the affected models are crossovers.

byEric Brandt|
GM Might Kill Off 6 Models, Including the Cadillac CT6, Chevy Volt, and Chevy Impala
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General Motors is in talks with the United Auto Workers union to figure out what to do about potential plant closures and job cuts. Traditional cars are selling so slowly that GM is considering killing off six different models in order to make production room to build more trucks, SUVs, and crossovers—a.k.a. the vehicles which we can’t stop buying.

The Drive recently reported on the extended shutdown at the Orion assembly plant due to sluggish sales and inflating inventory of the Sonic and the Bolt. Since that inventory issue isn’t going away with the Sonic and other slow-selling models, GM seems to be thinking it might be time to consider trimming down car offerings.

Sources told Reuters there’s a specific list of cars up for consideration to be terminated. Those cars are the Chevy Impala, Chevy Sonic, Chevy Volt, Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac CT6, and Cadillac XTS.

The surprise here is the Chevy Volt, which, while not a huge commercial success, revolutionized the green car industry. While other automakers are scrambling to come up with more plug-in hybrids and EVs, it would seem counter-intuitive for Chevy to give the Volt the ax. We can’t help but wonder how successful the Volt would be if it was a little taller and morphed into a compact crossover—and neither can GM, apparently, as the Reuters report suggests the Volt could be replaced with a cute 'ute in the next few years

The Hamtramck plant in Detroit, which produces the LaCrosse, CT6, Impala, and Volt, could be in big trouble. In the first half of 2017, that plant has produced fewer than 35,000 cars—down 32 percent from last year. For reference, the average GM factory cranks out 200,000-300,000 vehicles per year.

The threat to the Buick LaCrosse isn't a big surprise. Likewise, we can’t say we would be surprised if Chevy hit the point of having more crossovers than cars in their lineup—but it would be sad to see cars like the vastly-improved Volt and Impala go. As for Cadillac, the end of the CT6 would be another signal of the impending death of the full-size American luxury sedan, and that’s a damn shame.

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