Evolution of the segmentation of the European market 2000-2016
 
The segmentation analysis of the European car market since 2000 highlights a considerable development of SUVs, a category of vehicles which has risen from 2.5% of the European market in 2000 to 23.5% in 2016. This is the only vehicle category to  display such a growth as even the MPVs, which had risen at the beginning of the decade, from 7.5% of the European market in 2000 to 15% in 2005, dropped down to 8% in 2016. The sedans suffered from the growth of MPVs and SUVs.
They represent now only 67.5% of the market in 2016, compared to 76% in 2010 and 83.5% in 2000.

By segment, it can be seen that the C-segment vehicles remain the most sold and this C-segment market share is continuously increasing (to reach close to 40% of the European market in 2016), notably thanks to the C-SUV segment vehicles which represent now close to one in two SUVs. Sales of B-segment vehicles have increased since 2013 (to reach 32% of the European market in 2016), thanks to the development of B-SUV segment vehicles which account for nearly one in three SUV sales.
D-segment and E-segment are continuously declining (20% of the European market together), notably because the SUVs belonging to these segments are few in number, accounting for less than one in four SUVs. Sales of segment A-segment  and F-segment vehicles remain stable (nearly 10% of the European market for the former and less than 1% for the second), as these market segments are very rarely represented by SUVs.

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Consequences of the transfer to the USA of part of the Mercedes C-Class
 
Has the transfer from Germany to the USA of production of Mercedes C-Class sold in North America contributed to a decline in production of the C-Class at the German site in Bremen?

When the curve of C-Class production since 2005 is observed, it can be seen that the generation that was released in 2007 and replaced in 2013 peaked in 2008, with a volume of 330,000 manufactured units, before encountering in 2009 a clear disaffection, following the financial crisis, as other models of other brands.

Production has rebounded from 2010 to reach a new production peak in 2012, with a volume of 300,000 manufactured units. This production was sold in both Europe and North America, the two main markets of the C-Class (the Chinese market, much lower,  is supplied by local production in partnership with BAIC).

The new generation of C-Class launched at the end of 2013 was more successful than the previous generation, since its production volume rose gradually from 265,000 units in 2014 to 400,000 units in 2016, distributed as follows: 300,000 in Germany and 100,000 in the US (100,000 units are sold in the US each year). The transfer to the USA of part of the production of the C-Class therefore did not affect the volume of production of the C-Class in Germany, which remains at a production rate comparable to that of the old C-Class (around 300,000 units per year).

16-27-6   

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Mazda launches the second generation of its SUV CX-5
 
The Japanese carmaker Mazda now has three different SUVs: the C-segment CX3 (launched in 2015), the D-segment CX5 (launched in 2012) and the E-segment CX9 (launched in 2007). The D-segment CX7 (launched in 2006) was removed from the range in 2012.

Mazda renews its 2015 D-segment  SUV, the CX5, whose origins go back to 2012. The new model incorporates many components of the former model, such as the platform, and looks more like a restyling of the former model than a brand new model (as Opel did for its recent Corsa), as world sales of the CX5 remain at a very good level (300,000 units expected in 2016, a volume slightly higher than in 2015 ).

The new CX5, remaining manufactured in Japan, takes up the dimensions of the former one (length: 4.55m, width: 1.84m, height: 1.69m). The engines are sourced from the former model: a 4-cylinder petrol 2.0l developing 165hp and a 4 cylinder diesel 2.2 developing 150hp and 175hp.

The new Mazda CX5 (for which Inovev expects 300,000 annual sales, as for the former model) targets the D-SUV segment, alongside Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC, Jaguar F-Pace, Porsche Macan , Alfa Stelvio, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota RAV4, Renault Koleos, etc.

16-27-4   

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What could change the presidency of Donald Trump in the US auto industry?
 The election of Donald Trump at the White House could signal more protectionism on the part of the United States (this is the policy that was advocated in the program presented by Donald Trump during the election campaign).

Today, 60% of vehicles sold in the United States are produced in the United States. 
Imports represent 40% of sales, 10% from Canada, 10% from Japan and 10% from Mexico. By 2016, nearly 1.7 million vehicles come from Canada, both from Japan and Mexico.

Donald Trump announced that he wanted to renegotiate NAFTA and, in case of failure, slap a tax on imported vehicles (especially a 10 to 35% tax on cars coming from Mexico).

It will be difficult for it to implement such a measure which:
Would have the effect of significantly increasing the price of vehicles currently produced outside the USA
(the cost of labor is four times lower in Mexico than in the USA).
Induce distortions of competition (investments were made in a given economic context).
Would require the reopening of recently closed plants or the construction of new factories on US soil, with all the current US capacities of the order of 12 million vehicles being saturated.

The status quo could ultimately prevail, with some possible political changes at the margin.

16-27-3   

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Alfa-Romeo launches its first SUV: the Stelvio.
 

The Italian carmaker Alfa-Roméo, a subsidiary of the FCA group, is yomping to renew and expand its range upwards.
The SUV Stelvio (D-segment) and the sedan Guilia (D-segment, launched at the beginning of 2016)  have been added to  the Mito (B-segment) and Giulietta (C-segment).


The Stelvio is the first genuine SUV of the Alfa-Romeo brand (which had previously sold all-wheel-drive models derived from sedans and station wagons). The Stelvio enters an increasingly competitive segment since today almost all carmakers offer such models in  their catalogs, the last to enter this market being Seat (Ateca), Jaguar (F-Pace), Maserati (Levante) and Bentley (Bentayga). This segment now accounts for 25% of sales in Europe in 2016, and it is therefore in the interest of all carmakers to offer several SUVs in their catalogs.


The Stelvio targets customers of Premium D-segment SUV, such as Porsche Macan, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLC and Jaguar F-Pace. It is based on the platform of the Giorgio de la Giulia, and equipped with its various engines. The Stelvio is 4.68m long, like the Porsche Macan, and 1.65m high. The Stelvio is the first of the three SUVs that Alfa will launch in two years: an E-segment SUV based on the MaseratiLevante platform and a C-segment SUV based on the Giulietta platform.


Inovev expects 30,000 sales of Stelvio per year (its production being carried out in Cassino, Italy).


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