General Motors will discontinue the Buick Verano compact car for the 2017 model year, a company spokesman has confirmed.

The Buick Verano has lasted five model years, following its introduction with the 2012-MY. Buick offered a second-generation Verano in China as a 2015-MY vehicle in sedan and hatchback body styles. The vehicle that's build in Orion, Mich., has fallen victim to increasing demand for SUVs.

Buick is announceing that the Verano will be phased out in North America following a short 2017 model-year run ending in October of 2016," according to a GM statement. "The announcement underscores the changing consumer market dynamics where there is a growing demand for SUVs in North America."

GM sold more than 40,000 Veranos for the first three model years, and more than 31,000 in 2015.

GM builds the Verano on the Delta II platform that also serves as the basis for the Chevrolet Cruze, Volt, discontinued Cadillac ELR, and several Opel vehicles.