Why Was the Elantra Discontinued?
3 Answers
There are many reasons for the discontinuation of the Elantra, such as the aftermath of the 'THAAD Incident,' the rise of Chinese domestic automotive brands, and the exposure of quality defects in Korean cars. Below are the detailed reasons: 1. Aftermath of the 'THAAD Incident' Since 2016, when South Korea agreed to deploy the U.S. missile defense system, Sino-Korean relations have been tense. Coupled with Hyundai-Kia's own technological bottlenecks, this directly led to a significant decline in sales for Hyundai and other Korean automakers in China. Naturally, a large portion of domestic car buyers began avoiding Korean cars. Many industry experts believe this was the direct cause of the Elantra's sales decline. 2. The Rise of Chinese Domestic Automotive Brands Compared to the increasingly popular domestic cars, Korean vehicles no longer hold their high cost-performance advantage. In the early stages of market opening, some domestic products were inferior in quality to those from developed countries, leading many to prefer imported cars. Today, Chinese consumers have become more rational in their purchasing decisions, no longer blindly believing that 'foreign products are superior.' Domestic cars have also gained significant momentum in recent years, with their design, pricing, and quality aligning well with Chinese consumers' expectations, indirectly affecting the sales of other brands. 3. Exposure of Quality Defects in Korean Cars Over time, issues with early-purchased Korean cars have gradually surfaced, such as high fuel consumption, expensive maintenance costs, and low safety ratings. These problems have eroded consumer trust in Korean cars, shifting their focus to vehicles from other brands.
As a die-hard Hyundai fan, I've always kept an eye on car model updates, and the discontinuation of the Elantra (known as Lingdong in China) is actually quite common. Firstly, Hyundai has launched the new-generation Elantra, which features significant upgrades in design, technology, and safety performance, making the older Lingdong model naturally obsolete. Secondly, with the rising popularity of SUVs in recent years, many consumers have shifted towards more spacious models like the ix35, leading to declining sales for sedans like the Lingdong. To cut costs and optimize production lines, manufacturers had no choice but to discontinue it. Additionally, stricter environmental regulations require new models to meet the China VI-B emission standards, and the Lingdong's technical framework is somewhat outdated, making upgrades too costly. However, this doesn’t affect existing owners much, as parts will remain available in the market for several more years, and Hyundai’s service network is quite reliable. In short, automakers must always innovate and move forward—discontinuing older models makes way for new ones, which is ultimately good for the brand.
I once owned an Elantra, and after driving it for three years, I felt it was quite good. However, hearing that it has been discontinued, I feel a bit regretful. The reason, I think, is mainly due to the fierce market competition. Domestic sedans like the Geely Emgrand offer high cost-performance, while the Elantra wasn’t priced low, leading to fewer buyers and naturally prompting the manufacturer to discontinue it. Additionally, Hyundai’s strategy in China has shifted towards promoting new energy vehicles, such as the Tucson Hybrid, leaving traditional fuel cars like the Elantra neglected. Personally, I think this decision is practical—automakers need to keep up with the times, and we consumers can also choose more eco-friendly models. When I consulted a salesperson last year while changing cars, they mentioned the discontinuation was to concentrate resources, with more innovative models to come in the future, which makes me even more excited about Hyundai’s new releases.
