Why was the Lechi discontinued?
3 Answers
Because the sales volume was too small, it was discontinued. Baojun Lechi: The Baojun Lechi is a highly popular premium compact sedan under SAIC-GM-Wuling, originally the Chevrolet AVEO. It was developed by General Motors utilizing global resources and built on the GM Daewoo small car platform as a global product. Development History: On August 15, 2012, the Chevrolet Lechi, a high-performance microcar brand under General Motors, officially joined the SAIC-GM-Wuling Baojun brand lineup and was renamed Baojun Lechi, becoming the first A00-class model under the Baojun brand. The Lechi had been sold in China for 9 years and was a mainstream model in the A00-class market. According to SAIC-GM-Wuling, the Lechi began production at the SAIC-GM-Wuling base in 2003. The rebranding only signified a change in brand ownership, while product quality and service quality remained unchanged.
I remember the Lechi was quite popular back in the day. I drove one myself for several years—it was especially convenient for city commuting, easy to park, and had low fuel consumption. But gradually, it fell behind. The design became outdated, the safety features couldn’t keep up with new standards, and with a kid in the family, going out for trips felt cramped and uncomfortable. Nowadays, everyone prefers SUVs or electric vehicles—they’re comfortable and hassle-free. Plus, with stricter emission regulations, the Lechi’s engine struggled to meet the standards. The manufacturer naturally discontinued it to upgrade production lines, pushing newer models like the Hongguang MINI EV. Simply put, market preferences changed, older products couldn’t withstand the competition, and their exit was inevitable. It’s not surprising—consumers have to look forward.
Working at the repair shop every day, I've seen many Spark cars come in for maintenance and noticed common issues with older models, like loud engine noise and excessive emissions. The new regulations have strict exhaust requirements, making it impossible for old Sparks to pass annual inspections. Spare parts are also hard to find, and owners complain about the hassle of repairs. The manufacturer probably did the math—producing outdated models is costly and unprofitable, so they'd rather invest resources in new energy vehicles like the Hongguang series. At the end of the day, outdated technology can't survive, and discontinuing sales is a way to follow the trend and protect profits. As users, we should also opt for newer models when changing cars.
