What are the reasons for the discontinuation of the Roewe 350?
3 Answers
This is mainly due to the overall poor sales performance of the vehicle, and the fact that it has been replaced by the Roewe 360 model. Relevant details are as follows: 1. Roewe 350: The Roewe 350 is a compact sedan positioned in the A-segment market, launched by SAIC Motor following the Roewe 750 and Roewe 550. It is also the first Roewe family car to incorporate 3G technology. SAIC Motor clearly stated that the Roewe 350 is primarily targeted at young people who love life, and it is also a city car suitable for small families of three in China for daily commuting. 2. Technology: Compared to the older 350 model, the 2014 Roewe 350 underwent technical upgrades to improve fuel economy. Through the application of new technologies, optimizations were made to the chassis, engine, and transmission, resulting in a fuel consumption of only 6.9L, a 12% reduction compared to the older 350 model. This surpassed the fuel efficiency of comparable Japanese cars in the same class, highlighting its economic advantages.
I heard the Roewe 350 has been discontinued, mainly because its sales dropped. I remember it was quite popular when it first came out, around 2010. Many people bought it as a family car—it was affordable and practical. But then the market changed. SUVs suddenly became all the rage, and young people preferred larger models that looked more impressive. Plus, new energy vehicles like Roewe's own Ei5 emerged, making older models less desirable. After all, the Roewe 350 was a compact sedan with outdated interior and technology, unable to keep up with the times, and its fuel efficiency was just average. SAIC Motor had to adjust its strategy and allocate resources to newer models like the Roewe i5. Discontinuation was inevitable—automakers have to follow trends, or else who can afford to produce at a loss? As an ordinary car owner, I think it's a pity, but the market is just that brutal.
From a market perspective, the discontinuation of the Roewe 350 was a fairly normal decision. In its early days, this car sold well in the compact sedan market, with a positioning that was affordable and offered high value for money, making it suitable for family use. However, sales declined significantly in later years. Why? The Chinese auto market changes rapidly. SUVs and crossover vehicles became popular, and Roewe had to launch new models like the RX5 to capture market share. Additionally, the trend toward new energy vehicles is too strong, with policies pushing for electrification. Older models couldn’t meet the stricter China VI emission standards, and the cost of upgrading them was too high to be worthwhile. Competitors like Geely’s Emgrand and BYD also gained traction, taking away many customers. Roewe itself needed to update its product lineup, and keeping older models would only tie up capital and production lines. Automakers are profit-driven, after all—if sales aren’t sufficient, discontinuation is inevitable. Looking back now, this was a sign of SAIC Group optimizing its brand positioning, nothing to make a fuss about.
