Ssangyong launches a B segment SUV: the Tivoli

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Ssangyong launches a B segment SUV: the Tivoli
 
- The Korean carmaker Ssangyong (a subsidiary of the Indian group Mahindra) unveiled its new B segment SUV, the smallest model ever produced by the brand. This model should confirm the revival of the Korean brand after its serious financial difficulties and its acquisition by Mahindra in 2011.

- Since then, Ssangyong has given a new momentum to its business with its new C segment SUV, the Korando, launched in 2011 and restyled in 2013. But it's indeed the Tivoli that should revitalise the brand since the SUV category of B segment is growing rapidly in most parts of the world.

- This category accounted for 650 000 sales in Europe in 2014 against 400 000 in 2013. The leaders in this category are currently the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka, Nissan Juke, and new players will try to make their way to the top this year : Honda HRV, CX3 Mazda, Ford Ecosport restyled Fiat 500x and Jeep Renegade .

- The new Ssangyong is based on a completely new platform that will be used by future Mahindra and Ssangyong models. It will have a 1.6 petrol engine of 126bhp and a diesel engine specifically designed for the European market but not yet revealed. The Tivoli will be produced at the Ssangyong plant in Korea (Pyongtaek) at the rate of 100 000 units annually for worldwide distribution. The capacity of this plant is 250 000 vehicles per year.


15-05-7  

 

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Audi unveils the new generation Q7 SUV (E segment)

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Audi unveils the new generation Q7 SUV (E segment)
 
- Audi unveiled the new generation of its large Q7 SUV. This new model tops the SUV range of the German carmaker which currently consists of the Q3 (C - segment), Q5 (D  - segment) and Q7 (E - segment).

- The new generation of the Audi Q7, will still be made in Bratislava (Slovakia) alongside the Volkswagen Touareg and will be available during the first half of 2015 in Europe and exported to foreign markets such as the United States, China, Russia and the Middle East. According to Inovev Audi should produce 50 000 Q7 per year in Europe.

- The new Q7 is characterized by a reduction of its total weight of 300 kg compared to the previous generation, with a heavy use of aluminium. The new model is based on the MLB platform that will be shared by future longitudinal engines models. The new Q7 features a 3.0 TFSI gasoline engine 333bhp or a 3.0 TDI 272bhp diesel engine.

- At the end of 2015 a plug-in hybrid with a 3.0 TDI diesel engine will be launched and will have a total power of 373bph. The Q7's main competitors are the BMW X5 (156 000 sales in 2014), Mercedes GL (55 000 sales) and Volkswagen Touareg (50 000 sales) and the Volvo XC90 that will be marketed early 2015 (the previous generation did not exceeded 15 000 sales in 2014). The SUV category of E - segment primarily found customers in North America, but remain less popular in Europe and China, the two other major markets for SUVs because of their price and size. The Middle East, more fond of high-end models could also be a market sought by the Audi Q7.


15-05-5  

 

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27% overcapacity in Europe in 2014 (against 32% in 2013)

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27% overcapacity in Europe in 2014 (against 32% in 2013)
 

- Given a growing European market in 2014 (+ 5.5% for passenger cars and + 6.1% for PC + LUV) and ever growing exports, plant utilisation rate in Europe rose from 68% in 2013 to 73% in 2014.


- We are still far from the 85% which was the utilisation rate of European plants back in 2007, but it is gradually getting closer, especially that 2015 should be marked by a domestic market increase (of about 2% according to Inovev) and by the removal of excess production capacity at the beginning of the year, such as Genk and Bochum plants, accountable for a potential 500 000 vehicles produced each year.


- With the termination of excess capacity and a (slight) increase of the internal market along side rising exports (particularly Jeep Renegade, Fiat 500 X, Jaguar XE, Land Rover Discovery Sport), the utilisation rate of European plants could raise to 76% or even 77% in 2015 and even more if more plants were closed.


- By manufacturer, the BMW group, Tata, Hyundai-Kia and Volkswagen are those who have the best utilisation rate of their European plants, while Fiat-Chrysler and Suzuki have a very poor utilisation rate of their plants. Other carmakers are between these two extremes.


15-05-4  

 

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The global car market PC + LUV increased by 3.5% in 2014

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The global car market PC + LUV increased by 3.5% in 2014
 
- While the global automotive market (PC + LCV) increased by 3.9% in 2013 compared to 2012, it experienced a slight growth slowdown in 2014 compared to 2013 (+ 3.5%), to 85.4 million units (against 82.5 million in 2013). China (+ 7.3%), the USA (+ 5.9%) and Japan (+ 3.4%) continued to perform well in 2014 (these three countries alone account for 52% of global sales), but Brazil (-7.0%), India (-0.8%) and Russia (-11.0%) declined over the same period (these three countries represent 10% of sales global).

- Other countries have also seen the sales of new vehicles decline, such as Turkey (-10.0%), Thailand (-34.2%), Argentina (-28.4%), Algeria (-19.8%), Chile (-13.3%), Ukraine (-54.1%) and Venezuela (-82.1%).

- Other countries, managed to achieve good scores in 2014, such as the United Kingdom (+ 10.3%), South Korea (7.8%), Mexico (+6.8%) Canada (+ 5.6%), Italy (5.1%), Spain (+ 19.9%), Saudi Arabia (+ 11.8%) and especially Iran (+ 62.2%), which benefited from the easing of economic sanctions that had been implemented. The Inovev country by country analysis is now available on the website.

- Production figures for 2014 are not yet all known, but Inovev has forecasted an increase of between 2.5% and 3% in 2014 compared to 2013, as manufacturers continued inventory drawdowns last year.


15-05-3  

 

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The European market for light utility vehicles increased by 10.7% in 2014

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The European market for light utility vehicles increased by 10.7% in 2014
 
- The European market (29 countries) for LUV (less than 3.5 tonnes) increased by 10.7% in 2014, to 1 593 558 units (against 1 439 889 in 2013) of which 1 478 789 units in the Western Europe (17 countries) and 114 769 units in Eastern Europe (12 countries).
It is (slightly) improving economic conditions in Europe that favoured the revival of the LUV market.

- This positive result enabled the market to reach its 2011 levels once again, as the market had declined in 2012 and 2013, but this result remains well below the figures achieved before 2009 which were around 2 million units per year (peak of 2007: 2.3 million units).

- According to Inovev the European LUV market should continue to make up for a portion of the volume lost since 2009 and will grow slowly until 2017, at a rate of 3.5% per year on average. The result achieved in 2017 will be less than 1.8 million units, still quite far from levels achieved before 2009.

- By country, France is the leading European LUV market (370 000 sales), thanks to vehicles of category N (PC models transformed into LUV) such as the Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 from Company, that accounted for nearly 80 000 sales in 2014.
The United Kingdom (320 000 sales), driven by favourable economic conditions, is the second largest market behind France. Followed by Germany (230 000 sales), that buys heavier and larger vehicles, followed far behind by Italy (120 000 sales) and Spain (115 000 sales). These five countries account for 72% of the European LUV market in 2014.


15-05-1  

 

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