Why did Chevy stop making the SS?
Chevrolet halted production of the SS after GM ended the Holden-based Commodore platform and shifted its focus away from niche, rear-wheel-drive sedans toward trucks and crossover utility vehicles.
This article explores what the Chevy SS was, the factors that led to its discontinuation, the timeline of events, and what—if anything—could follow in Chevrolet’s lineup for a high-performance four-door sedan.
What was the Chevy SS?
The Chevy SS was Chevrolet’s four-door, rear-wheel-drive performance sedan offered in the United States from the 2014 model year. It was built in Australia by GM Holden using the Holden Commodore VF platform and powered by a naturally aspirated V8, paired with a choice of transmissions. The car was positioned as a practical, performance-oriented alternative to other large sedans, combining everyday usability with a V8-sourced performance character.
Why GM discontinued the SS
Several dynamics—ranging from market demand to global supply and corporate strategy—driven the decision to retire the model. The following points summarize the primary factors.
- Weak demand for a large, rear-wheel-drive four-door with a traditional muscle-car image in the U.S. market.
- The SS was based on Holden’s Commodore platform, which was manufactured in Australia; continuing that supply became costly and increasingly uncertain after Holden’s local operations were shut down in 2017.
- GM’s broader strategic shift toward trucks, SUVs, and crossovers reduced emphasis on niche sedans, especially those with a limited sales footprint.
- Ongoing costs related to homologation, safety regulations, and import logistics for a platform no longer in regular production at the source.
Taken together, these factors made the SS an economically challenging proposition for the long term, leading GM to retire the model after the 2017 model year.
Timeline of events
The following milestones show how the SS moved from introduction to retirement and what followed in the years after.
- 2013: Chevrolet announces the SS for the U.S. market, based on the Holden Commodore VF platform and produced in Australia for Chevrolet.
- 2014–2017: The SS is sold in limited volumes in the United States, praised for performance but limited by market size and branding considerations.
- 2017: Holden announces the shutdown of its Australian manufacturing operations; GM confirms there will be no direct, long-term replacement for the Commodore-based SS in the U.S.
- 2018 onward: Chevrolet does not offer a direct successor to the SS; GM emphasizes trucks, SUVs, and other performance offerings, with no immediate plan to revive the four-door V8 sedan concept.
In short, the end of Holden’s production and a global shift away from sedans sealed the SS’s fate within Chevrolet’s lineup.
Future prospects for the SS name or its concept
Industry observers have debated whether Chevrolet or GM could revive a four-door performance sedan in the future. The current stance from GM is that there is no official plan to bring back the SS name or its Holden-based platform, at least in the near term. Any potential revival would likely hinge on new architectures, electrification, or rebranding under a different GM badge rather than reusing the old Commodore-based formula.
- As of 2025, there is no announced plan to reintroduce the Chevy SS or a direct equivalent on the current product roadmap.
- Any future four-door performance model would probably leverage GM’s latest platforms and could be electrified, rather than relying on the Holden Commodore-based system.
- Given GM’s emphasis on trucks, SUVs, and crossovers, a revival would likely require a compelling market case or a signature halo vehicle—potentially in an electric performance sedan segment under Chevrolet or Cadillac.
For now, the SS name remains a closed chapter in Chevrolet’s history, with enthusiasts continuing to debate what form—or whether—a modern equivalent might take in a future GM lineup.
Summary
The Chevy SS ended because its platform depended on a now-defunct Australian production line, the U.S. market for a large rear-wheel-drive V8 sedan proved too small to sustain the project, and GM redirected resources toward more profitable segments like trucks and crossovers. While fans still cite the SS as a standout example of a practical performance sedan, there is no official plan to revive the model in the near term, and any future iteration would likely come via a new GM platform or an electrified performance sedan rather than a direct return of the Holden-based formula.
Is the Chevrolet SS reliable?
Among the 41 owners who provided feedback on the 2017 Chevrolet SS for Kelley Blue Book, consumer sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with 98% recommending the vehicle. As a whole, consumers found the vehicle's performance and reliability to be its strongest features and value to be its weakest.
Why did Chevy stop making the Chevy SS?
Why was the Chevy SS discontinued? The SS was built on the same platform as the Holden Commodore from Australia, and that car was discontinued in 2017. With no reason to continue the name due to its small sales volume, GM end production for the SS as well.
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