France is the only major European country that has not recovered its pre-crisis levels
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France is the only major European country that has not recovered its pre-crisis levels
- France is the only major European producer country that has not recovered its pre-crisis levels, since it has not exceeded 2.3 million vehicles produced in 2018, compared with 3.5 million in 2005, when that the other six major European producing countries (Germany, Spain, UK, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovakia) have all reached or even exceeded their 2005 level.
- France was even overtaken by Spain in 2013 and has gradually moved closer in terms of volumes to Britain, although since 2016, the gap between the two countries has again increased, in part because of the uncertainties about Brexit, which is now hampering British production.
- By manufacturer, we see that the two major manufacturers Renault-Nissan and PSA suffered a quite comparable fall in production, while the other two lower volumes manufacturers, Daimler (Smart), and Toyota, progressed modestly.
- The decline in the volume of production in France recorded until 2013, is explained by the fact that this country has relocated a good part of its entry-level models (Clio, Twingo, 207, 208) to Spain, Turkey and the countries of Eastern Europe (Slovenia, Slovakia), but also by the increasing weakening of their upper segment models (D and E), followed by that of the minivans (Espace, Scenic) which clashed with the growing success of premium sedans and SUV.
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PSA plant in Sochaux will exceed 500,000 vehicles produced in 2018
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PSA plant in Sochaux will exceed 500,000 vehicles produced in 2018
- French automotive production by plant shows that only the PSA factories in Sochaux and Valenciennes, the Renault plant in Batilly, the Daimler plant in Hambach and the Toyota plant in Onnaing have regained or even exceeded their pre-crisis production levels, while the eight other factories ‘production volume decreased significantly. Thanks to the success of the Peugeot 3008 and Opel Grandland, the Sochaux plant will exceed 500,000 vehicles produced in 2018.
- The plants with the strongest volume decrease are Poissy (PSA), Rennes (PSA), Mulhouse (PSA), Douai (Renault) and Flins (Renault). These sharp declines can be explained by the relocations and the growing failure of upper segment sedans and minivans.
- In addition, two factories closed over the period, Aulnay (PSA) and Cerizay (Heuliez). The Aulnay site’s production of C3 has indeed been relocated to Slovakia. The Cerizay site manufactured niche vehicles (Opel Tigra) that were not replaced, due to Heuliez’ lack of resources and Opel's lack of motivation, as they were facing other difficulties.
- If we look at French car production by type, we can see that the drop in the volume of production between 2005 and 2013 only affects passenger cars, while light commercial vehicles production volumes have steadily increased since the crisis of 2008- 2009, to reach a 2018 level that is well above that of 2005.
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Hyundai-Kia has become the world's second largest producer of alternative powered vehicles
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Hyundai-Kia has become the world's second largest producer of alternative powered vehicles
- The Hyundai-Kia group has sold nearly 260,000 alternative-powered vehicles (HEV hybrids, PHEV plug-in hybrids, BEV electric, fuel cell) over the first 11 months of 2018, which augurs a volume of nearly 300 000 units throughout the year. This volume is reached two years before the target set by the manufacturer, which proves the success recorded by this type of Hyundai-Kia group vehicles.
- It is now the second largest manufacturer worldwide for this type of vehicle, in terms of sales, behind the Toyota group but ahead of Renault-Nissan, Tesla and Chinese manufacturers.
- Inovev estimates Toyota's alternative-engine sales at 1,600,000 units in 2018, compared to 200,000 for Renault-Nissan and 275,000 for Tesla.
- Currently, the Hyundai-Kia range with alternative engines consists of the following models: Sonata HEV, Sonata PHEV, Ioniq HEV, Ioniq PHEV, Ioniq EV, Soul EV, Niro HEV, Niro PHEV, Niro EV , Optima PHEV, Kona EV, Nexo FUEL CELL (replaces the iX35 with hydrogen). The Stonic could receive an electric motor (that of Kona). This range of twelve different models based on seven different bodies is expected to develop even further over the next five years.
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Ford Europe will not replace the C-Max and Grand C-Max
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Ford Europe will not replace the C-Max and Grand C-Max
- Inovev had previously indicated that Ford Europe planned to abandon the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max without replacement in 2020. These D-segment models are manufactured in Spain, on the site of Valencia since 2014, having been produced in Belgium, on the Genk website, until 2014.
- Today, Ford Europe announces that it plans to abandon the compact minivans C-Max and Grand C-Max without replacement in 2019. These C-segment models born in 2010 are manufactured since 2014 in Germany, on the site of Saarlouis, having been produced in Spain, on the site of Valencia, until 2014.
- Ford Europe explains that the minivans category is becoming less popular among customers, and the volume of production has become very low in 2018 (less than 65,000 units for all C-Max and Grand C-Max, ie less 35,000 for each of the two models) and no longer justifies their commercialization in 2019.
- The site of Saarlouis which produces these two models will therefore adjust its production by focusing on one model, the Focus.
- The planned and imminent shutdown of the Ford C-Max, Grand C-Max, Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max indicates that Ford Europe is significantly reducing its range, the manufacturer now focusing on the manufacture of Fiesta, Focus, Kuga and Ecosport, as well as Transit, Transit Custom, Transit Courier and Transit Connect.
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New declines in the Chinese market in October and November 2018
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New declines in the Chinese market in October and November 2018
- The Chinese automotive market (PC + LCV) continued to decline in October and November 2018, after declines in July, August and September 2018. The potential of the Chinese market to increase becomes questionable in the coming years because the decreases recorded in recent months are becoming increasingly important (-11.6% in September, -12.0% in October, -12.5% in November) and the Chinese market may evened the year with negative growth year on year (-2.0% on the cumulative 11 months 2018 and even -3.0% for passenger cars), which has not happened for two decades. In addition, the month of November was the sixth month of decline in vehicle sales in China for the whole year, and December ‘s prospects look poor.
- The high rate of equipment in major Chinese cities and the new market orientation towards cleaner vehicles, with a growing presence of electric powered models (+ 57.8% of sales in November 2018 compared to November 2017, to 129,000 units) could explain this reversal of the Chinese market.
- We must also look at the economic activity of the country which has been slowed by the trade dispute between China and the United States (the lowest growth rate recorded since 2009), and the automotive market has necessarily suffered from the consequences. If the Chinese government decides to alleviate this situation, they could use tax levers to revive the market, by reducing the tax rate on the purchase of new vehicles from 10% to 5%, but it would probably be difficult to repeat this operation in the future.
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