General Motors announced that it will stop making mild hybrid versions of the Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura in the United States, and will phase out production of the Buick LaCrosse mild hybrid in China. The elimination of its current mild hybrid technology is one more sign that the company is cutting back on programs and technologies that are expensive and unsuccessful—in the same way that it’s reducing unprofitable brands and dealerships
For 2009, the Malibu Hybrid is rated at 26 city and 34 highway, meaning a much healthier 4-mpg boost over the base-level Malibu—compared to the 2-mpg benefit in last year's model. We took the 2009 Malibu Hybrid on a 156-mile loop and managed 29.8 miles per gallon.
A General Motors spokesperson told Automotive News that the company planned to sell 27,000 mild hybrid vehicles this year, but is falling short because its supplier, Cobasys, provided faulty batteries. In an exclusive interview with HybridCars.com, a Cobasys executive—who asked not to be named—responded to GM statements and press reports, saying, “A lot of it is not correct," but declined to elaborate further.
