Products discontinued in 2018

Products discontinued in 2018
Title	Products discontinued in 2018
Year	2018

Products discontinued in 2018 The year 2018 saw a broad wave of product retirements across technology, consumer goods, automotive lines, and regional offerings, driven by strategic shifts at multinational corporations, changing regulatory environments, and evolving consumer preferences. High-profile exits from the markets included legacy hardware, software platforms, snack brands, beverage formulations, and vehicle models, reflecting decisions made by firms such as Apple Inc., Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, The Coca‑Cola Company, and Ford Motor Company. These discontinuations influenced supply chains, collector markets, and secondary sellers like eBay and Amazon (company) while prompting commentary from outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, Bloomberg L.P. and Reuters.

Overview

In 2018 companies across sectors pursued portfolio rationalization, consolidation following mergers and acquisitions involving Amazon (company), Walmart Inc., Alibaba Group, CVS Health, and Bayer AG, and compliance actions tied to regulators like the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the European Commission. Notable corporate strategies from Apple Inc. and Google LLC focused on services and cloud platforms, while manufacturers such as General Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation adjusted production toward SUVs and crossovers, impacting discontinuation choices. Market events including the 2018 trade tensions involving United States and China and currency fluctuations in Argentina and Turkey further shaped decisions, with legacy brands from Procter & Gamble, Kraft Heinz, PepsiCo, Inc., and Nestlé also affected.

Major technology and electronics discontinuations

2018 marked the end of several longstanding consumer electronics and software products: Nintendo moved on from certain Wii U peripherals as it concentrated on the Nintendo Switch, while Sony Corporation phased out some PlayStation 3 accessories and models as it emphasized PlayStation 4 and PlayStation VR. Google LLC announced retirements and shifts in services tied to Google+, and Microsoft Corporation pushed users off older Windows Phone assets and reduced support for versions of Internet Explorer in favor of Microsoft Edge. Hardware lines ceased from companies such as Intel Corporation (legacy chipset families), NVIDIA (end-of-life GPU series), and BlackBerry Limited (last licensed handset models). The professional audio and camera markets also saw discontinuations from Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, and Sony Corporation as mirrorless systems gained momentum, while legacy storage formats faded with vendors like Western Digital and Seagate Technology halting older external drives. Retail shifts at Best Buy and B&H Photo Video echoed changing inventories.

Consumer goods and food/beverage discontinuations

Classic snack and beverage items were discontinued or reformulated in 2018 by firms such as The Coca‑Cola Company, PepsiCo, Inc., Mondelez International, Kraft Heinz, and Mars, Incorporated. Regional variants of sodas and juices were withdrawn in markets served by Coca‑Cola HBC and PepsiCo subsidiaries, while confectionery lines from Nestlé and Ferrero Group were consolidated. Personal care and household brands received attention from Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, and Colgate‑Palmolive Company as they retired underperforming SKUs. Retailers including Walmart Inc., Target Corporation, and Tesco cleared discontinued grocery and private label products. Local producers and specialty items from companies active in Italy, France, Mexico, and Japan also saw market exits due to supply-chain rationalization and changing consumer trends promoted by influencers and food media such as Bon Appétit and BBC Food.

Automotive and industrial product discontinuations

Automakers including Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Toyota Motor Corporation, and BMW removed sedans and compact models from North American and European lineups as consumer demand shifted toward SUVs and trucks. Specific model retirements affected dealer inventories and resale markets tracked by Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader. Heavy equipment and industrial product lines from Caterpillar Inc., Komatsu Ltd., and Deere & Company were streamlined in response to commodity cycles influenced by sectors represented by OPEC and commodity exchanges. Commercial vehicle and parts discontinuations impacted fleets managed by companies such as UPS and DHL and service networks including Bosch and ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

Impact and market response

Discontinuations provoked reactions from collectors on platforms like eBay, Etsy, and specialized forums, increasing demand for legacy items from companies like Apple Inc. (vintage devices) and Nintendo. Investors and analysts at firms such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. assessed impacts on stock valuations, while trade publications including The Wall Street Journal and Financial Times analyzed strategic implications. Regulatory scrutiny in jurisdictions like the European Union and United States sometimes accompanied product retirements, particularly where safety standards or antitrust issues intersected with market exits. Consumer advocacy groups including Which? and Consumer Reports documented service and warranty implications.

Notable regional and company-specific retirements

Several retirements were notable for their regional or corporate specificity: local beverage and snack variants removed by Coca‑Cola Amatil in Australia and snack formulations withdrawn by subsidiaries of Mondelez International in Latin America; legacy telecommunications equipment phased out by Nokia Corporation and Ericsson in parts of Africa and Asia; and banking technology products retired by institutions such as Barclays and HSBC Holdings plc during digital transformation efforts. Startups and niche brands also ceased specific offerings amid consolidation driven by investors including Sequoia Capital and SoftBank Group. Many of these retirements were chronicled in regional outlets like The Sydney Morning Herald, La Nación, The Times of India, and Asahi Shimbun.

Category:2018 disestablishments