The Chevrolet Blazer was a controversial offering when GM chose to revive the model a few years ago. The current generation Blazer ditched the rugged blocky styling that defined older Blazer models and instead attempted to channel a sportier vibe with rugged capability replaced with urban-focused performance.
Sales for the Blazer have so far proven to be weak with the sporty styling doing little to provide a jolt to GM’s bottom line. A new report suggests that GM has had enough and will be pulling the plug on the gasoline-powered Blazer to cut its losses and focus on other projects elsewhere.
Slow sales doom Chevrolet Blazer
This is according to a new report from GM Authority, citing “sources close to that matter,” which alleges the automaker will eliminate the gas-powered crossover from its American lineup after 2025. The appearance of the report comes as the Blazer continues to post declining sales with the model seeing its sales figures fall by 20% when compared to 2023 with sales also being far below the 95,000 units the Blazer sold when it debuted back in 2019.
The Blazer did receive a mid-cycle update a few years ago but it was a relatively light update and it focused on minor changes versus being an outright revamp. This light touch evidently didn’t add zest to sales and questions about its future continue to be asked with Chevrolet neither confirming nor denying the validity of GMA’s report.
Tariffs could also be playing a role
In addition to slow sales, GM might be looking to eliminate a potential source of trouble when it comes to tariffs. The Blazer is built at GM’s Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico with the facility also building EVs like the Optiq, Equinox, and the Blazer EV. The model is imported in as a result, and would be affected by any beefed-up tariffs unleashed by the Trump Administration against Mexico. These tariffs are on hold for now with Trump citing an agreement made with Mexico in regards to border security.
However, if he chooses to actually enact them (they are on a 30-day hold) the tariffs would force GM to potentially raise prices due to the increased cost of importing the Blazer in and with the model already being a poor seller in GM’s SUV lineup, the company would probably want to avoid wasting resources on the SUV. Instead, the firm will most likely put a higher priority on the EVs built at the plant to minimize any price increases that might be passed on to consumers if those models are brought in while enhanced tariffs are in place.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.