GM USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
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GM USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
- The GM group communicated the product plan for its range of vehicles manufactured in the NAFTA zone for 2018-2021. Vehicles launched in 2017, such as the new generations of Chevrolet Traverse, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and, more recently, Buick Regal, are not included in this list.
- For the next four years, the focus will be on launching new SUVs, as in the next 14 launches, 9 will be for SUVs, 4 for sedans or coupes, and 1 for pickups.
- Concerning brands, the focus will be on Chevrolet (7 launches) and Cadillac (6 launches).
- A single launch will be for the Buick brand, which means that this brand will gradually become marginal in the NAFTA region line-up, while it will continue to prosper in China. It is true that the acquisition of Opel by PSA hampers the Buick brand inasmuch as its models were previously derived from Opel models (Verano, Regal, Cascada, Encore) that Buick will no longer be able to use in the future. The B-segment sedans (Chevrolet Spark, Chevrolet Sonic) will be phased out at GM, as these models have not met the expected success in the US market. The Chevrolet Cruze (C), segment Malibu (Dsegment) and Camaro (E Segment) are still too new to be replaced before 2022. The Chevrolet Impala (E segment ) however seems threatened.
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Ford USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
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Ford USA 2018-2021 Product Plan
- The Ford Group has communicated the product plan for its range of vehicles manufactured in the NAFTA zone for 2018-2021. Vehicles launched in 2017, such as the new generations of Ford Shipping and Lincoln Navigator, are not included in this list.
- For the next four years, emphasis will be placed on the launch of new SUVs, with 6 of the next 12 launches being for SUVs, 4 for sedans or coupes, and 2 for pickups.
- As for the brands, the launch effort will be focused more on Ford (9 launches) than on Lincoln (3 launches).
- The B Segment (Ford Fiesta) sedan will gradually be abandoned at Ford, as this model has not met the expected success in the US market. On the other hand, it is possible that the Ecosport (B segment SUV) will be imported from Romania or India to compete with the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore which retain a small but stable market share.
- Ford will complete its range with newer models such as the Ford Bronco or Lincoln Aviator, and will renew a good part of its SUVs during the period 2018-2021 (Escape, Edge, Explorer) as well as its F-150 pickup which remains Ford’s biggest selling model. The larger F-Series pickups will be replaced after 2021. For now, the production site of the future Focus remains uncertain.
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Mercedes becomes the Number 1 premium carmaker in China
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Mercedes becomes the Number 1 premium carmaker in China
- The Mercedes brand became the leading premium brand in China in 2017, with 392,000 sales in this market in the first eight months of 2017, compared with 384,000 sales for BMW and 360,000 sales for Audi, with the other premium brands well behind. Cadillac barely exceeds 100,000 units, Land Rover does not reach 65,000 units, tied with Volvo, followed by Lexus (60,000 sales), Porsche (38,000 ), Infiniti (27,000 ), Jaguar (23,000 ), Lincoln (18,000 ) and Tesla (5,500 ). Other brands such as Maserati, Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Aston-Martin or DS make less than 5,000 sales.
- Audi still produces the most cars in China (350,000 units in the first eight months of 2017), ahead of Mercedes (294,000 units) and BMW (248,000 units), other brands (such as Cadillac or Volvo ) being largely distanced.
- The Audi brand thus produces locally 98% of what it sells in China, compared with 75% for Mercedes and 65% for BMW. These two brands therefore still have room to produce more in China. Interestingly, Cadillac does even better than Audi, as this American brand produces 99% of what it sells in China locally. Others, such as Lexus, Porsche, Lincoln or Tesla, do not produce in China and import all of their sales into China.
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Bentley unveils new generation of Continental GT
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Bentley unveils new generation of Continental GT
- Bentley, which produces approximately 10,000 cars a year, is the luxury subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The current range includes the Flying Spur (launched in 2005, restyled in 2013) and Mulsanne (launched in 2009, restyled in 2016) sedans, the Continental GT (launched in 2002, restyled in 2010) coupé and convertible, and the Bentayga ( launched in 2016) SUV.
- In September 2017 Bentley unveiled the new generation of the Continental GT coupe. It shares its platform (MSB) with the Porsche Panamera and the Audi A8 (and not with the VW Phaeton, as did the previous generation) whereas the Bentayga SUV shares its platform (MLB) with the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.
- The new generation of the Continental GT keeps the silhouette of the older generation, but many details differ (longer wheelbase, less front overhang, enlarged grille, almond shaped tail lights). The model is 4.81m long, 1.95m wide and 1.39m high, which is very similar to the dimensions of the old model.
- In terms of engines, the new Continental GT is available in V8 4.0 over 500hp and W12 6.0 over 600hp.
- Since the former Continental GT sold 66,000 units in 15 years (4,400 units per year), the new model could reach 5,000 units per year. The new model will be manufactured at the historic site of Crewe (England), like the old Continental GT and all Bentley models.
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Geely becomes China's Number 1 manufacturer in front of Changan
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Geely becomes China's Number 1 manufacturer in front of Changan
- In 2017 the Chinese manufacturer Geely became the leading independent Chinese manufacturer in the passenger car category, beating Changan who had held this position for many years. In the first eight months of 2017, Geely sold 805,000 passenger cars (55,000 of which were Volvo) while Changan did not exceed 720,000 sales.
- Geely benefited from their product range, better suited to the demand of today’s Chinese customers while the Changan range‘s image is too entry level , and the contribution of Volvo cars that are beginning to sell at a reasonavle rate in the Chinese market, even if Mercedes, BMW and Audi are still way ahead.
- In the overall Chinese and foreign manufacturers ranking, Geely is now in fourth position, just behind Honda, and largely behind VW and GM which remain way out front. But Geely has supplanted Renault-Nissan and Toyota.
- Changan temporarily retains its leading position if commercial vehicles are added, with 857,000 sales in the first eight months of 2017, compared with 821,000 sales for Geely which sells fewer utilities. But it is clear that this gap will decrease over the next months and that Geely will surpass Changan in terms of sales of VP + VUL, perhaps before the end of the year, and certainly in 2018.
- Globally, Geely has largely outdistanced Changan, thanks to the contribution of Volvo.
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