Why was the Changhe M70 discontinued?
2 Answers
Changhe M70 was discontinued due to poor sales. Here are the specific details about the BAIC Changhe M70: 1. Vehicle positioning: The BAIC Changhe M70 is a compact MPV under the BAIC Changhe brand, offering three seating layouts of 5/7/8 seats. Its dimensions are 4720/1770/1828mm in length/width/height, with a wheelbase of 2810mm. 2. Powertrain: The Changhe M70 is equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum power of 113Ps and a peak torque of 150N·m. The transmission system is paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox, featuring a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
I've been working in the automotive sales industry for several years. To put it bluntly, the discontinuation of the Changhe M70 was due to poor sales. When the model was first launched, its target audience was ordinary family users, but the market competition was too fierce—the Wuling Hongguang's high cost-performance ratio stole customers. Later, with the SUV boom, demand for MPV models shrank, and the Changhe M70's monthly sales dropped to just a few hundred units, leaving no room for profitability. Cost-wise, it wasn't viable either; retrofitting the outdated platform was expensive, especially after the implementation of the China VI emission standards, which doubled the cost of upgrading the engine. There was a lot of user feedback, with poor word-of-mouth due to frequent minor issues and expensive repairs, hurting repurchase rates. At the brand level, after BAIC integrated Changhe's resources, the focus shifted to new energy vehicles, leaving low-priority models like the M70—a fuel-powered car—to be discontinued around 2020. I believe the core issue was failing to keep up with market changes and policy trends, leading to its natural exit from the stage.
