Audi A7: Inovev expects production of 30,000 units per year in Europe
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Audi A7: Inovev expects production of 30,000 units per year in Europe
- Audi (Volkswagen Group's premium subsidiary) unveiled the new generation of the sporty A7 Sportback sedan, whose current generation dates back to 2010. This E-segment model is presented a few months after the new generation of the Audi A8 (F-segment) and a few months before the new generation of the Audi A6 (E segment).
- The new Audi A7, which keeps its predecessor’s silhouette, and still does not exist in coupe and cabriolet versions (unlike the A5), is based on the platform MLB (longitudinal engines), already used by Audi A4, A5, A6, Q5, Q7 as well as Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Macan. The future Volkswagen Touareg will also be based on this platform.
- The new Audi A7 tackles E-segment sport sedans, which some automakers are announcing as 4-door coupes. It tackles mainly Mercedes CLS (which should be replaced in 2018) and BMW 6 Series GT (which was presented in June 2017).
- The new Audi A7 retains the engines of the current generation, as well as its dimensions (length: 4.97m, width: 1.91m, height: 1.42m). It takes the directional rear train of the recent Audi A8.
- This new model will still be manufactured on the German site in Neckarsulm, alongside the Audi A5, A6 and A8. Inovev predicts 30,000 units production a year in Europe for this model.
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Tesla builds assembly plant in China
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Tesla builds assembly plant in China
- The Californian manufacturer of electric cars Tesla (based in Fremont, Silicon Valley) confirmed that they are building an assembly plant in Shanghai, without creating a partnership with a Chinese manufacturer, as is most often the custom in China.
- The announcement comes at a time when the automaker is struggling to meet demand for its new Model 3, which would help Tesla move from small-scale production to large-scale production.
- Tesla had to postpone its goal of achieving a production rate of 5,000 Model 3 per week to the end of the first quarter of 2018, whereas up to now it had expected to reach this point by the end of the fourth quarter of 2017.
- These difficulties have no influence upon the global strategy of the Tesla brand which wishes to expand its activities to regions other than the United States (Fremont) or Europe (Tilburg). The third Tesla assembly site will be located in Shanghai (where GM and VW are already present through the Chinese manufacturer SAIC) which will supply the entire Chinese market.
- Start of production is planned for 2020. The intention of the manufacturer is to produce the Model 3 (this is the cheapest model of the brand), which would avoid importing it in large quantities from the United States.
- Tesla is thus responding to the recommendations of the Chinese government which push for a high percentage of electric vehicles in their domestic market.
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Estimated world electric vehicles fleet at year’s end 2017
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Estimated world electric vehicles fleet at year’s end 2017
- Inovev has calculated the current world fleet of electrified vehicles, based on sales.
1. The number of non-rechargeable hybrid vehicles is around 11,548,000 units at the end of 2017, including 4,981,000 in Japan (the leading market for this type of vehicle, thanks to Toyota, which has invested in this technique over the last twenty years on a large scale), 4,564,000 in the United States (including a majority of Toyota), 1,837,000 in Europe (including a majority of Toyota) and 166,000 in China. In total, nearly 10 million Toyota (and Lexus) hybrids are driven on our planet.
2. The number of rechargeable and 100% electric hybrid vehicles is around 2,483,000 units at the end of 2017, including 855,000 in China (the largest market for this type of vehicle), 795,000 in Europe, 710,000 United States and 123,000 in Japan (this market is rather focused on non-rechargeable hybrids).
- The world's fleet of electrified vehicles (HEV + PHEV + BEV) is therefore as follows: 5,274,000 units in the United States, 5,104,000 units in Japan, 2,632,000 units in Europe and 1,021,000 units in China, or 14 031 000 vehicles in total, out of nearly one billion, all engines combined. These vehicles now account for 1.5% of the world fleet and it will take many years to achieve the objectives announced by some manufacturers and governments, namely 10% of the world fleet, then 20% ….
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BMW X2: Inovev expects production of 120,000 units per year in Europe
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BMW X2: Inovev expects production of 120,000 units per year in Europe
- BMW has unveiled the coupe version of the SUV X1 (C segment), which is logically called X2, since the cut versions of the X3 and X5 are named respectively X4 and X6. Like these, the X2 retains its four side doors.
- The X2 is based on the same platform (UKL) as the X1, the Mini and compact minivans BMW Active Tourer and Gran Tourer. The future BMW 1 Series scheduled for 2018 will also be based on this platform, and will therefore move from rear to front-wheel drive, since the UKL platform is designed for front-wheel drive, and also for all-wheel drive (four-wheel drive) that will be available on some versions of the X2.
- The BMW X2 is shorter than the X1 (4.36m against 4.44m) and lower (1.53m against 1.60m), but it is as wide (1.82m), has the same wheelbase (2.67m) but loses its third side window.
- The BMW X2 tackles the most dynamic C-segment SUVs, such as the Mercedes GLA and Audi Q3. The X2 could even tackle the Audi Q2 and Volkswagen T-Roc which are 15 cm shorter, as well as the Toyota CHR which is the same length.
- The BMW X2 uses the same engines as the X1 (1.5 petrol, 2.0 petrol, 1.5 diesel, 2.0 diesel).
- The BMW X2 will be manufactured on the same site as the X1, that is to say the German site of Leipzig. Inovev predicts production of 120,000 X2 s per year in Europe, after ramp up in the first quarter of 2018.
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PSA plans to produce up to 400,000 vehicles in Mulhouse in 2021
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PSA plans to produce up to 400,000 vehicles in Mulhouse in 2021
- The PSA group has announced that it will increase the production capacity of the Mulhouse plant, from 300,000 units per year today to 400,000 units in 2021.
- This factory, which was built in the early 1960s initially to produce the Peugeot 204 launched in 1965, has today become one of the largest factories of the PSA group. The Mulhouse plant produced 277,000 vehicles in 2016 and will probably manufacture as much in 2017, given the volume announced for the first nine months of the year (205,000 units). This factory currently manufactures the Peugeot 2008, Citroën C4 and DS 4.
- The factory's production program for the years 2018-2021 shows the arrival of future generations of Peugeot 508 and Citroën C5, as well as the future DS 4, DS 4 Crossback, DS 7 Crossback and DS 9. However, the Mulhouse plant would lose the production of Peugeot 2008 (transferred to Vigo in Spain) and Citroën C4 (transferred to Villaverde in Spain).
- Inovev predicts that 200,000 vehicles will be produced in Mulhouse in 2021, if PSA sticks to their announced manufacturing program. To date it is not known which additional models could be built in Mulhouse to saturate production to 400,000 units per year. Could the next generation Opel Insignia be manufactured on this site, which would de facto condemn the Rüsselsheim site in Germany? Another possibility could be for the future Peugeot 308 on this site (in full or in part).
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