* Declining demand for large sedans: The overall market for large, rear-wheel-drive sedans like the Impala SS was shrinking significantly. Consumers increasingly preferred SUVs, crossovers, and smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
* Fuel efficiency standards: Meeting increasingly stringent government fuel economy regulations became more challenging and expensive for a large, powerful car like the Impala SS.
* Profitability: With declining sales and rising development costs (related to fuel economy regulations and safety features), the Impala SS likely became unprofitable to produce.
* Focus on other segments: General Motors, Chevrolet's parent company, shifted its resources and focus to other vehicle segments where it saw greater potential for growth and profitability, such as SUVs and trucks.
While the Impala nameplate itself continued for a few years after the SS version was discontinued, it was a significantly different car—a more mainstream, front-wheel-drive sedan—that ultimately also got discontinued. The high-performance Impala SS era ended because the market for that type of car simply wasn't there anymore, making it unsustainable for GM.
