The Chevrolet Camaro, one of the most iconic muscle cars in American history, is going out of production after more than 50 years on the road. General Motors (GM), the maker of the Camaro, announced on Wednesday that it will stop producing the current sixth-generation model early next year .
The Camaro was first introduced in 1966 as a competitor to the Ford Mustang and quickly became a symbol of power, performance and style. Over the years, it has gone through several design changes and generations, each with its own loyal fan base. The Camaro has also been featured in movies, TV shows, video games and racing circuits, including NASCAR.
But despite its popularity and success on the track, the Camaro has been struggling to keep up with changing consumer preferences and market trends. Sales of the current generation Camaro have declined significantly since its debut in 2016 , as more buyers opt for SUVs, crossovers and electric vehicles. The Camaro also faced stiff competition from its rivals, such as the Mustang and the Dodge Challenger.
GM said that it will not announce an immediate successor to the Camaro today , but hinted that there may be another generation in the future. “While we are not announcing an immediate successor today, rest assured, this is not the end of Camaro’s story,” Scott Bell, vice president of Chevrolet, said in a statement .
Some analysts speculate that if GM revives the Camaro, it will likely be an electric vehicle, as part of GM’s plan to sell only electric passenger vehicles worldwide by 2035. This would align with GM’s vision of creating a zero-emissions future and transforming itself into an electric vehicle leader.
However, some fans may not be ready to embrace an electric Camaro just yet. For many enthusiasts, part of the appeal of a muscle car is its roaring engine sound and raw power. An electric motor may not be able to replicate that experience or satisfy their expectations.
In any case, GM said that it will offer a collector’s edition package of the 2024 Camaro RS and SS in North America , as well as a limited number of high-performance ZL-1 models . These special editions will have ties to the first-generation Camaro from the 1960s and its GM code name “Panther” . These may be some of the last chances for fans to own a piece of automotive history before it drives off into the sunset.
