Why Did BYD Surui Get Discontinued?

[Susie]

Here are the reasons why BYD Surui was discontinued: 1. Insufficient product competitiveness and poor sales: The best period for the Surui was between 2012 and 2014, when monthly sales could maintain over 8,000 units, peaking at 12,000 units. However, after that, Surui's sales gradually declined until mid-2017 to 2018, just before its discontinuation, when monthly sales dropped to only around 500 units. This issue was largely due to the overall lack of product competitiveness of the Surui. 2. To avoid cannibalization: After the Surui was discontinued, BYD launched the Qin to take its place. Therefore, it can be said that BYD discontinued the Surui to make way for the Qin. 3. Unable to meet BYD's future development: BYD's current vehicle names are all named after Chinese dynasties, such as Tang, Song, Yuan, and Qin, which appear as a cohesive whole and are easier for consumers to remember. 4. Poor performance in powertrain, interior materials, and design: Compared to contemporaries like Geely and Chery, the Surui did not hold an advantage. Additionally, the Surui only offered a 1.5L engine with a maximum horsepower of 109, making it very underpowered.

[MacIsabelle]

As an ordinary car owner who follows the development of domestic cars, I think it's quite normal for the Surui to be discontinued. When this car was launched in 2012, it was positioned as a family commuter, and the price was indeed affordable, but it hasn't had a major update for almost ten years. Nowadays, consumers prefer SUVs and new energy vehicles, so the sales of older sedans like the Surui are bound to decline. BYD has been focusing on new energy vehicles in recent years, and the Dynasty series is selling extremely well. With limited factory capacity, it's natural to prioritize the production of more profitable models. In the end, it's the market's choice that phases out older products, just like how Nokia's feature phones were naturally replaced by smartphones. However, I heard that some of the Surui's technologies have been applied to the Qin PLUS, which can be considered another form of legacy.

[DeIker]

I worked at a 4S dealership for five years and saw many longtime owners bringing their Surui in for maintenance. The discontinuation of this model was mainly due to product line adjustments, as its positioning has been replaced by newer models. For example, the Qin series now covers the same price range while also offering hybrid versions. Additionally, the Surui's development platform is relatively outdated, and upgrade costs are high, so manufacturers naturally prioritize allocating resources to best-selling models. Honestly, there are now too many domestic sedan options in the 100,000 yuan price range, with models like the Emgrand and Eado offering higher configurations than the Surui. Younger consumers are more inclined to purchase newly released models.

[DelAdam]

As an automotive design enthusiast, I'm very familiar with BYD's product iterations. The discontinuation of the Surui is simply part of the normal product lifecycle. After its 2015 facelift, it received no substantial updates, with engine technology still stuck at the multi-point fuel injection stage and chassis tuning failing to keep up with the times. In contrast, BYD's current DM-i technology is incredibly advanced, and R&D resources naturally need to be prioritized accordingly. Moreover, the Surui's design language was too boxy, while sleek coupe styling is what's popular now. The manufacturer made a wise decision—rather than forcing a generational update, it's better to focus on new energy vehicles.

[VanNevaeh]

I remember accompanying a friend to buy a Surui in 2015, and it ran for over seven years without major issues. But now when visiting showrooms, this model is indeed nowhere to be seen. The main reason for the manufacturer discontinuing it was product positioning overlap. The newly launched Destroyer 05 and Qin PLUS are priced similarly to the Surui but offer significantly higher configurations, even featuring larger screen sizes. Naturally, consumers prefer newer models over older ones. Additionally, maintenance parts for the Surui are becoming increasingly scarce, with many components taking days to source. As a longtime owner, I feel somewhat regretful but can understand the manufacturer's business decision.

[VanStephanie]

Friends following the automotive industry know that the Surui's discontinuation was primarily due to three factors: first, intensified market competition with rivals like the Geely Emgrand continuously updating in the same price range; second, the manufacturer's strategic shift, as BYD has focused all its efforts on new energy vehicles in recent years; and third, changing consumer preferences, with people now valuing smart features over mere interior space. Last year, I test-drove a friend's old Surui, and its manual handbrake and button-filled center console did look outdated. However, its 1.5L engine proved to be durable, which is certainly commendable.