America's Cheapest Car Is Heading To The Scrapheap In The Sky

Feb. 02, 2022 6:00 PM ET by Sebastian Cenizo Industry News / 5 Comments

Say your goodbyes to the cheerful Chevrolet Spark.

Chevrolet is currently investing big in its future, particularly when it comes to driverless technology and electric mobility. That means a lot of new vehicles are on the way, including an electric Chevy Blazer, but with the impending arrival of new models, some existing offerings need to be cleared away. The troublesome Bolt is living on borrowed time, but it's not the only small Chevy that could soon be axed. According to CarsDirect, General Motors spokesperson Kevin Kelly has confirmed that America's cheapest car, the Chevrolet Spark, will soon be killed off. In an email, he says that the Spark will officially be discontinued after production ends this summer.

2019-2022 Chevrolet Spark Rear View Driving

2019-2022 Chevrolet Spark Front Angle View

The Chevrolet Spark first arrived in America almost a decade ago, but despite its affordable price, rumors surrounding its demise have been circulating for some time. Of course, when a car has last received a redesign in 2016, it's long overdue for a refresh, but since GM seems to be focused on EVs more than anything else, it makes sense to just get rid of the little runabout. With a base price of under $15,000, budget-conscious buyers must now look elsewhere. The next cheapest car in Chevrolet's current lineup is the Trax, but that's around $8,000 dearer, so Chevy could lose buyers to the Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Versa that both retail for a little more than $16,000.

2019-2022 Chevrolet Spark Steering Wheel Design

2019-2022 Chevrolet Spark Interior Overview

2019-2022 Chevrolet Spark Infotainment System

As we mentioned at the outset, the Chevrolet Bolt EV could soon be killed off too. We think that the death of these two models should motivate Chevrolet to develop an affordable, entry-level EV that doesn't set itself on fire or have the safety of a shopping cart. If Chevy can make it to market ahead of the long-rumored $25k Tesla, it will gain a foothold in a market that is yet to blossom but sure to grow exponentially. Bowtie fanatics will be aware that there was once a Spark EV, sold between 2014 and 2016, but this cost $25,000 and could only cover 82 miles. Reinvent the car, achieve a range near to 200 miles, and sell it for the same money and you'll have a winner. Hopefully, Chevy will agree with this line of thought.