These GM sedans’ days are numbered.
Pour one out for the Cadillac CT6, and another for the full-size Chevolet Impala while you’re at it. The Detroit News reports that General Motors will lay off employees at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant as it retools to build electric vehicles. As a result of that news, the company also set an expiration date for the Cadillac CT6 and the Chevrolet Impala, both of which are currently produced a the plant.
The Cadillac CT6 will officially cease production in January 2020. Beyond that, the last Chevrolet Impala will roll off the line on February 28, 2020. News of both cars’ demise came last year as GM announced the demise of several of its passenger cars, including the Buick LaCrosse as well as the Chevrolet Cruze, Cadillac XTS and Chevrolet Volt. GM also recently announced its decision to drop the Buick Regal, paring the company’s sedan down to the Chevrolet Spark, Sonic and Malibu. Not that any of those three are necessarily safe either.
The Cadillac CT6 represented many first for the brand as it briefly provided a flagship sedan to rival the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series, among others. Technologies like the rear camera mirror, Super Cruise and the short-lived Blackwing V8 engine all debuted on the CT6, and GM’s Omega platform is bespoke to Cadillac’s flagship. While some of the technology has found its way into GM’s other models, the company invested millions upon millions into the CT6, which ultimately ended up being a lukewarm seller, at the best of times. In its best year, the CT6 sold 10,542 units.
For its part, the Chevrolet Impala’s passing is another sad moment in history. The model has been in production for over half a century since 1958, although not continuously. The latest production run lasted 20 years, from the eighth-generation model’s introduction for the 2000 model year.
Gearing up for EVs
As part of GM’s recent deal with the UAW, the automaker will keep Detroit-Hamtramck open, instead of shuttering the plan as they originally announced earlier this year. Instead, it will invest $3 billion in the plant to produce electric vehicles. Until that happens, though, the company will reduce the plant to a skeleton crew, as reported by Detroit News. 753 workers represented by the union will receive job offers in January to relocate to GM’s other Michigan or Ohio plants, rather than losing their jobs outright.
When the revamped Detroit-Hamtramck begins production, it will reportedly employ 2,225 workers when it’s running at full capacity. Eventually, it’s slated to build the company’s first electric pickup, as well as an electrified Cadillac Escalade by 2023.
