Why was the Besturn X40 discontinued?

[DeDiana]

The discontinuation of the Besturn X40 was primarily due to poor market response. Below are relevant details about the Besturn X40: 1. Vehicle positioning: The Besturn X40 is positioned as a compact SUV with dimensions of 4310mm1780mm1680mm and a wheelbase of 2600mm. 2. Entertainment features: Equipped with FAW Besturn's newly developed D-Life vehicle connectivity system, which functions like a portable smart terminal, allowing flexible customization of various online applications such as navigation, music, radio, news, weather, and social networking.

[VanRobert]

I heard the discontinuation of the Besturn X40 was mainly due to market reasons. When this compact SUV was first launched, it indeed offered great value for money, with spacious interiors in its price range. However, domestic car brands have advanced rapidly in the past two years. Competitors like the Changan CS35 PLUS have upgraded to turbocharged engines and smart connectivity systems, leaving Besturn far behind in terms of features. Coupled with the overall decline in the SUV market, manufacturers couldn't keep up with profits, and the maintenance costs for production lines were high. I reckon Besturn simply decided to phase out the older model and focus on the new T-series vehicles. After all, family-style design language is trending now, and the X40's styling really couldn't keep up with the times.

[DeSkylar]

I think the main reason is that the product competitiveness has fallen behind. I drove my friend's X40, and the 1.6L naturally aspirated engine's performance was mediocre, with relatively high fuel consumption. Nowadays, you can buy turbocharged models at the same price point. The interior has a strong plastic feel, and the infotainment system reacts a bit slow, which doesn't appeal to young people at all. Manufacturers have to consider the input-output ratio—last year, this car only sold a few hundred units per month, and keeping the production line idle is too costly. Plus, they need to free up capacity for new energy vehicles, so it's more cost-effective to allocate resources to electric models like the Bestune E01. Traditional small fuel-powered SUVs are indeed losing popularity.

[LaLouis]

The continuous sluggish sales forced the manufacturer to make this decision. I remember during its peak in 2018, monthly sales could still exceed 10,000 units, but then plummeted straight down as competitors increased. Last year, the average monthly sales were only in the triple digits, and keeping the production line running meant losing money. Nowadays, with obvious consumption upgrades, everyone is buying new cars equipped with L2 autonomous driving. Besturn has recently been focusing on promoting the T series, which is positioned higher-end with better profit margins, so entry-level models like the X40 naturally have to make way for new vehicles. After all, businesses need to do the math, and discontinuing outdated models is quite normal.

[Verona]

Changes in the market environment and product positioning have led to the discontinuation. Currently, the small SUV segment is shrinking significantly, with everyone shifting focus to the compact market. The X40's body size and specifications are indeed awkward in today's context, neither fitting the high-end nor the low-end segments. Manufacturers also have to deal with the costs of upgrading to China VI emissions standards, making it unprofitable to revamp such a non-revenue-generating model. Looking at Bestune's new vehicle plans, it's clear the focus is shifting towards intelligent and electric vehicles, so it's time to phase out older platform products. I estimate that once the inventory is cleared, production won't resume.