Why Was the Volkswagen Scirocco Discontinued?
3 Answers
Not only in the Chinese market, but the sales of the Scirocco were also poor in various regions and markets globally, leading to its discontinuation. Here are the relevant details: 1. According to media reports, the Scirocco sold 2,054 units in the first quarter of 2016, a significant drop compared to the 10,752 units sold in the first quarter of 2015. 2. The Scirocco's model updates were extremely slow—the 1.4T powertrain remained unchanged for a total of nine years. Additionally, its exterior design adhered strictly to Volkswagen's "family look" approach, with minimal modifications. 3. For the Chinese market, three-door hot hatches were far less popular than in the European and American markets.
It's really a pity that the Volkswagen Scirocco was discontinued. This car was once the looker among hot hatches. I've looked into the official explanation – the main reason was Volkswagen's global strategy shift after 2015, when all resources were poured into SUVs and electric vehicles. Two-door coupes like the Scirocco never had high sales volume, and the production line costs were expensive. When Europe implemented the new WLTP emission testing regulations, modifying the chassis and engine just wasn't cost-effective. Here's a little-known fact: the current Beetle actually used the Scirocco's chassis, so when the Beetle was discontinued in 2019, it foreshadowed the Scirocco's fate. Even now, when I spot an old Scirocco on the road, I can't help but take a second look – those frameless doors paired with the fastback design represent a purity of styling rarely seen in new cars these days.
As a seasoned car enthusiast who frequents 4S stores, I noticed that the Scirocco was officially discontinued in 2017. The root cause was simply poor sales! Back then, with a price tag of 300,000 yuan, young people found it too expensive and opted for the Golf GTI, while middle-aged folks considered it impractical. In 2016, domestic monthly sales were just 200 units, not even a fraction of the Lamando's sales. Additionally, the R&D costs were high—the MQB platform had just been launched, and retrofitting the production line for this niche model was too costly. A little-known detail is that even with an 80,000-yuan price cut during the final inventory clearance, the cars were still hard to sell. Dealers often remarked that the car was 'more praised than purchased.' In fact, after the eighth-generation Golf GTI boosted its power to 245 horsepower, the Scirocco became even less relevant.
