It’s been nearly two years since Chevrolet assembled the final sixth-generation Camaro—a ZL1 1LE with a manual gearbox—at its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan. That historic moment in December 2023 marked the end of an era, leaving enthusiasts nostalgic and anxiously awaiting a successor. Yet, fast-forward to mid-2025, and the seventh-generation Camaro remains nothing more than a whisper on the wind.
When GM’s Global Vice President Scott Bell announced the model’s discontinuation, he left a sliver of hope by promising, “This is not the end of Camaro’s story.” But hope has a shelf life—and the shelf is looking dusty.
Now, GM President Mark Reuss has reignited speculation, albeit cautiously. Speaking with The Detroit News, Reuss hinted at a possible Camaro revival—if the stars align. “That formula of beauty—and a little bit of functionality and fun—that’s really important,” Reuss said. “If we were getting back into Camaro, that piece of it is really important.” Still, he tempered expectations, noting the undeniable truth: “The segment is declining.”
Indeed, the muscle car market has been on a slow and painful retreat. Ford’s Mustang—a perennial benchmark—was outsold by its electric crossover cousin, the Mach-E, in 2024. That flipped in the first half of 2025, with the gas-powered Mustang leading sales (23,551 units) over the EV (21,785 units). But context matters: the Mustang’s own sales are down 14.2% year-to-date, continuing a downward trend after a 9.5% decline in 2024.
Pricing is a key culprit. A base Mustang starts at $33,610, more affordable than the $48,799 average for new vehicles, yet still a luxury for most Americans grappling with inflation. The Camaro’s outgoing base price of $32,495 was competitive—but with rising costs and tighter wallets, second cars meant for weekend joyrides are becoming harder to justify.
Insiders claim a Camaro revival proposal was recently “blown apart” by GM leadership due to an underwhelming business case. And while enthusiasts rally for a comeback, the numbers—and the market—don’t lie.
What, then, would it take to resurrect the Camaro?
For one, combustion power is non-negotiable. GM has reportedly learned from lukewarm reactions to electrifying the Corvette. “Nobody wants that,” said Tony Roma, Executive Chief Engineer of Corvette, in blunt terms. It stands to reason that a Camaro EV would meet a similar fate. Passion buyers want noise, vibration, and visceral feel—not silence and range anxiety.
Rivals at Stellantis seem to have drawn the same conclusion. Dodge’s all-electric Charger has struggled despite early incentives. That’s why all eyes are now on the new Sixpack—a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six—and persistent rumors of a Hemi V-8 return in 2026. If true, that would signal a powerful rebuttal to the EV-only narrative in Detroit’s performance playbook.
So, is the Camaro dead? Not quite. But it’s certainly sleeping.
Reviving it will require more than nostalgia—it’ll need a razor-sharp business case, a clear identity, and, most crucially, the engine that gives the nameplate its soul. Until then, fans will have to settle for memories, track-day reruns, and one last glance at the taillights as the final ZL1 fades into history.
Source: Detroit News
