What is the reason for the discontinuation of the JAC X8?
3 Answers
The reason for the discontinuation of the JAC X8 is its poor configuration and low sales. In terms of appearance: The JAC X8 features a hexagonal front grille paired with the currently popular vertical waterfall-style mesh design, giving it a strong presence. In terms of powertrain configuration: The JAC X8 is equipped with L2 autonomous driving capabilities, along with a vehicle connectivity system and the latest generation of iFLYTEK in-car voice recognition system. It is powered by a 1.5TGDI second-generation direct-injection engine, delivering a maximum power of 135KW and a maximum torque of 300Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 50km/h in 5.2 seconds and meets the China VI-b emission standards. The engine is paired with either a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed wet dual-clutch automatic transmission.
The discontinuation of the Sehol X8 is quite typical, as the market environment has changed rapidly in recent years. Positioned as a mid-size family SUV with a price tag of around 100,000 yuan, it faced stiff competition from hybrid and new energy vehicles in the same price range, with consumers increasingly prioritizing fuel efficiency and smart features. JAC is now fully transitioning to new energy, allocating factory resources to pure electric models like the Sehol E50A and Yiwei 3. After deepening cooperation with Volkswagen, JAC also had to optimize and restructure its product line, leading to the phasing out of fuel-powered models like the X8, which had overlapping positioning. To be honest, the X8's powertrain, featuring a 1.5T engine paired with a 6DCT transmission, wasn't particularly outstanding in its class, especially now that new models are adopting hybrid-specific engines. However, there's no need to worry too much about after-sales service, as spare parts supply will be guaranteed for at least five years.
As a former owner of the JAC X8, I genuinely feel it's a pity that this model has been discontinued. The space is truly spacious, with the third row capable of accommodating adults, but the fuel consumption easily exceeds 10L in city driving. With the rapid rise in oil prices over the past two years, everyone is now focusing on new energy vehicles when choosing a car. During my maintenance visits, I overheard technicians discussing how the manufacturer has retooled its production lines to primarily handle new energy vehicle orders, even halting the molds for fuel-powered cars. The X8 PLUS that JAC is currently promoting is actually a redesigned platform, with dimensions enlarged further, featuring a full-width light strip and an electronic gear lever. More crucially, the brand's strategy has shifted, with all the main models on JAC's official website now being new energy vehicles. After the discontinuation news broke, the most discussed topic in our car owners' group was maintenance concerns. The 4S stores assured us that existing service centers can handle maintenance and that spare parts inventory is sufficient.
