Why was the Baojun 310 discontinued?
3 Answers
Baojun 310 was discontinued mainly due to low market sales, prompting the manufacturer to halt production and eventually withdraw it from the market completely. Here are the relevant details: Baojun 310: The Baojun 310 is a compact hatchback launched by SAIC-GM-Wuling on September 8, 2016. It was equipped with a 1.2L engine paired with a 6-speed manual transmission, resulting in a generally sluggish start. In 2017, an automatic variant was introduced, featuring a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine paired with a 5-speed automated manual transmission. Reasons for declining sales: Part of the reason was the incomplete safety features of the Baojun 310, but the larger factor was the emergence of numerous entry-level compact SUVs in the market at the time. These SUVs were priced similarly to compact cars but offered better space and performance, leading more consumers to gradually opt for compact SUVs.
I've always been a loyal fan of Baojun. Regarding your question about the discontinuation of the Baojun 310, I think the main reason is its declining market competitiveness. I remember how popular this car was a few years ago—it was super affordable, had low fuel consumption, and was perfect for young office workers like us for daily commuting. But the car market has changed over the past two years. Consumer preferences have upgraded, and people now lean more toward SUVs or smarter models like the Changan CS35 or BYD Dolphin, which offer more space and features. The Baojun 310's outdated design, plain interior, and lack of new features led to a gradual decline in sales. Additionally, with the upgrade to the China 6B emission standards, manufacturers faced high costs and thin profits to retrofit older models to meet the new requirements. The company has shifted its resources toward new energy vehicles, such as the Wuling Hongguang MINI EV, and discontinuing the 310 is part of this strategic adjustment. Ultimately, it was phased out by the times, but this also allows automakers to focus on innovation. For consumers, having more great car options is a good thing.
Having worked in the industry for years, I understand the root cause of Baojun 310's discontinuation lies in outdated technology. Those aging platform models are troublesome to maintain, with customers frequently complaining about severe engine vibrations or electrical issues. After the implementation of new emission regulations, the original designs failed to meet standards, and retrofitting would be too costly—developing a brand-new platform made more sense. The parts supply chain was another headache, with special components going out of stock, affecting after-sales quality. Manufacturers evaluated costs versus benefits and decided it wasn't worth keeping the model alive, opting to discontinue it instead. Nowadays, the auto market is all about electrification and smart tech, so allocating resources to new projects is more cost-effective. For consumers, while there are plenty of used car options, new models are off the table—this market shift is only natural.
