Why Was the Volkswagen C-Trek Discontinued?

[DelLucia]

The reason is that the target audience did not align with the car's positioning, necessitating an update. Below is an introduction about Volkswagen: 1. Overview: Volkswagen AG is a German automobile manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany, founded by Ferdinand Porsche on March 28, 1937. 2. Details: The company owns brands such as Audi and Volkswagen. In May 2021, the '2021 Forbes Global 2000' list was released, with the Volkswagen Group ranking 17th. 3. Brand Culture: Volkswagen (German: VolksWagenwerk), meaning 'the people's car,' has undergone several changes in its logo history. The current Volkswagen logo features 'VW,' the initials of its full name.

[MadelineFitz]

To be honest, I find the discontinuation of the Volkswagen C-Trek quite complicated. As a frequent forum visitor, I believe the main reason is its lukewarm market reception. Volkswagen initially launched the C-Trek to fill the gap between station wagons and SUVs, but this positioning didn't resonate well in the Chinese market. I noticed its interior and powertrain were similar to the Sagitar (Bora in China), yet it was priced significantly higher – consumers naturally opted for the more affordable Sagitar. Additionally, with the rise of domestic SUVs in recent years, models like the Haval H6 offered more space and better features, stealing many potential customers. Within the Volkswagen Group, resource allocation also favored newly launched SUV models like the Tayron and Tharu. Finally, increasingly strict emission regulations made updating the outdated PQ34 platform too costly, leading to the decision to discontinue this underperforming crossover.

[StLaura]

Last time I got my car repaired, the mechanic mentioned the discontinuation of the Volkswagen C-Trek. From a product perspective, it's quite understandable. The car was originally based on the overseas station wagon model, but after localization, the chassis was raised by 2 centimeters, turning it into an awkward crossover. It lacked the off-road capability of an SUV and the spaciousness of a station wagon. Young people found it outdated, while family users considered it impractical. The price wasn't cheap either, comparable to the Sagitar, but with inferior configurations. Volkswagen has clearly been scaling back its fuel vehicle lineup in recent years, even spinning off Jetta as an independent brand last year. Naturally, models like the C-Trek with monthly sales of just a thousand units were the first to be affected. I've seen a few remaining units at 4S stores during inventory clearance, but even with a 30,000 yuan discount, there were no takers.

[Ashlyn]

After analyzing the data, the most direct reason for the discontinuation of the Volkswagen C-Trek was its sales collapse. In 2017, monthly sales could still exceed 5,000 units, but by 2020, it struggled to sell even 500 units. The core issue was its unclear positioning—marketed as a station wagon but built on a sedan chassis, with a trunk 20 cm shorter than a proper station wagon and stiff suspension tuning. At the same price point, consumers could buy genuine SUVs like the Nissan Qashqai, which offered more space and independent suspension. Volkswagen itself cannibalized the segment with newer models like the T-Roc and Tharu. After the implementation of China 6B emissions standards last year, the cost of upgrading its outdated 1.5L engine was too high, and with its aging platform, discontinuing the model simply made financial sense.

[DelJoshua]

Once at a car enthusiasts' gathering, we talked about the Volkswagen C-Trek, and everyone agreed it was a car born at the wrong time. When it launched in 2016, it coincidentally ran into the SUV craze, competing against popular models like the CR-V and X-Trail. Volkswagen misjudged the domestic acceptance of station wagons—Germans might find them stylish, but Chinese consumers favored the practical image of SUVs. Later, even its sibling, the Lavida hatchback, outsold it. How awkward is that? Technically, it was also at a disadvantage, using the outdated EA211 engine and a 6-speed Aisin automatic transmission, resulting in significantly higher fuel consumption compared to the 1.4T+DSG combo of the same period. Now that Volkswagen is fully transitioning to electrification, the phasing out of such transitional models is inevitable.