Inovev foresees a production of 15 000 units per year for the future Fiat pick up

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Inovev foresees a production of 15 000 units per year for the future Fiat pick up

 

- While Renault and Mercedes have recently announced their will to both market  a midsize pickup based on the next generation of Nissan Navara pick-up, for its part Fiat has just announced that it will market a pickup (which will be the same size) based on the Mitsubishi L200 pickup.


- These announcements highlight the interest of major manufacturers for the midsize pickup category whose sales are expected to grow significantly in emerging markets, including South America, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In 2014, nearly two million pickup in its class were sold worldwide, the main actors are the Toyota Hilux (450 000 units in 2014), Isuzu D-Max, Mitsubishi L200, Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara.


- The Fiat badged model will be manufactured by Mitsubishi in Thailand (which is a country specialized in producing midsize pickups), on the same assembly lines as the recently restyled L200. For Fiat, it is an opportunity to embark on a segment where it is not present. For Mitsubishi, this partnership will increase its production volumes in Thailand and worldwide to compensate the termination of SUV deliveries for the PSA group (Peugeot 4008 / Citroën C4 Aircross).


- The new Fiat pickup will be marketed in Europe and South America from 2016. No sales forecast has been announced. Inovev expects a production of 15 000 units per year, i.e. 1/10 of the volume of the Mitsubishi L200.

 

15-16-3  

 

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India: Renault-Nissan Aims for 15 Percent Share in the Passenger Vehicle Market

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India: Renault-Nissan Aims for 15 Percent Share in the Passenger Vehicle Market

 

- Renault-Nissan Alliance is aiming to expand market share in India by launching low-price vehicles. In fiscal 2016 (ends at March 2017), the two automakers intend to capture over 15 percent of India's passenger vehicle market (including utility vehicles and   vans).   Nissan released the Datsun budget brand in 2014, while Renault launched the Kwid in mid-2015, a low-price model based on the new design method called CMF or Common Module Family. Nevertheless, the alliance's combined market share stood at 3.7 percent in 2014 and achieving its goal appears to be difficult.

- In India, following the launch of the Kwid, Nissan also plans to release a CMF-based model under the Datsun brand by 2017. The new Datsun model is intended to be cheaper than the Go small hatchback (324,000 INR) and the Go+ MPV (379,000 INR), targeting mainly regional cities.

- Looking at Nissan's business operations in India, thanks to the launch of the Datsun brand, sales volume increased 53.7 percent year-on-year to 49,313 units and production volume went up 15.6 percent to 166,698 units. Although export ratio fell 5.4pp to 71.5 percent, export volume exceeded 100,000 units for the fourth consecutive year.

- It appears that Nissan is positioning India as an export hub for markets in Africa and Europe. Recently, the Japanese automaker began the export of the low-price Datsun brand, launching the Datsun Go in South Africa in June 2014. 

 

15-16-4  

 

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Thai 2014 Automobile Export: Up 0.1 Percent to 1.13 Million

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Thai 2014 Automobile Export: Up 0.1 Percent to 1.13 Million

 

- Thailand's vehicle export volume in 2014 was nearly on par with that of the previous year at 1.12 million units. Export ratio increased 14.1pp (percentage points) to 59.7 percent, partially driven up by sluggish local demand due to the country's First Car program which ate away future local demand. Export volume in 2015 is expected to remain the same as that of 2014 or may even decrease due to dull overall global demand.

- By  type, passenger cars increased  5.4 percent to 413,044 units and passenger pickup vehicles rose 9.3 percent to 64,484 units. In contrast, one-ton pickup trucks fell 3.8 percent to 644,626 units. While passenger vehicles with an engine displacement of over 1,5L dropped, robust increase of smaller models maintained overall growth of passenger cars. As for one-ton pickup trucks, since the Toyota Hilux and other products were reaching the end of their model cycle, the segment declined for the second consecutive year.

- By automaker, Toyota fell 1.2 percent to 425,730 units. The expansion of export destinations of the Corolla Altis and Yaris was able to mostly counterbalance dwindling export of the IMV series which is reaching die end of its model cycle. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Motors, AAT and Isuzu among others realized double-digit increase.

- Looking at future developments, export of the new IMV series is scheduled to start in the second half of 2015, while Honda Motor's new Prachinburi Plant is scheduled to begin export in 2016. In addition, Suzuki Motor intends to use Thailand as an export hub of the new Swift starting from 2016, indicating stepped up export activities. However, due to dull global demand in 2015,
full-scale expansion is expected to start from 2016.

 

15-16-2  

 

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Inovev foresees a production of 250 000 Opel Astra in Europe each year

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Inovev foresees a production of 250 000 Opel Astra in Europe each year

 

- Opel has introduced the new generation of its C segment sedan, the Astra. This new model will be produced for the European market in Gliwice (Poland) and Ellesmere Port (UK) - and no longer in Rüsselsheim (Germany) - it will be marketed from September 2015. Inovev expects 250 000 to 260 000 sales per year in Europe (against 234 000 units in 2014).


- Segment C remains one of the most lucrative in Europe with 37% market share in the first half of 2015 (38% in 2014), against 34% for segment B (33% in 2014). The VW Golf, Peugeot 308, Renault Megane, Ford Focus, Hyundai i30 and Kia Cee'd will be the main rivals of the new Opel Astra. Since 2005, the VW Golf is the market leader with an average of nearly 500 000 sales per year. Regarding Fiat and its Aegea model, the Italian manufacturer must regain its legitimacy in segment C, which will not be easy after the successive failure of the Stilo and the Bravo.


- The new model (4.37 m long) is shorter by 5 cm compared to the current generation. The manufacturer announced that it lightened the model by 125kg on average. The new Astra is fully equipped with new engines, namely a 3 cylinder 1.0 turbo petrol (105hp), a 4-cylinder 1.4 turbo petrol (145hp), a 4-cylinder 1.6 turbo petrol (200hp). Regarding its Diesel engines, the Astra will feature the latest 1.6 CDTI with different powers available in 95hp, 110hp and 136hp.

 

15-16-1  

 

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Korean 2014 Automobile Export: Down 0.8 percent to 3.06 Million Units

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Korean 2014 Automobile Export: Down 0.8 percent to 3.06 Million Units

 

- Korea's vehicle  export volume in 2014 decreased 0.8 percent year-on-year to 3.06 million units, dropping for the second consecutive year. The drop underlines the effect of the strong won and GM's decision to pull the Chevrolet brand from the European market which is exported from Korea. In addition, shrinking market scale in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Argentina and in some other emerging countries also dampened export.

- By type, passenger vehicles fell 1 percent to 2.92 million units, dropping for the second consecutive year. SUVs went up 9.3 percent to 1.11 million units, but passenger cars and minivans declined 6.3 percent and 7.4 percent respectively. Commercial vehicles increased 1.8 percent to 143,423 units, posting growth for the first time in three years thanks to strong truck demand, up 8.1 percent, in emerging markets.

- By automaker, Hyundai Motor went up 1.9 percent to 1.19 million units and Kia Motors rose 8.4 percent to 1.22 million units, both manufacturers maintaining export over 1 million units. Renault Samsung showed great performance as well, up 26.6 percent to 89,851 units, thanks to consignment production of the Nissan Rogue for the US market from October 2014. In contrast, GM Korea decreased 23.4 percent due to its decision to end Chevrolet sales in Europe. In addition,  Ssangyong Motor dropped  10 percent as a result of weak sales in Russia.

- Export is expected to rise due to lower tariffs on automobile exports to the EU after the conclusion of free trade agreement with the economic bloc and increased export by Renault Samsung after starting consignment production of Nissan products for the US market. Export will be also aided by the full-scale remodeling of core export products. In 2015, Hyundai Motor plans to remodel the Tucson and Avante, Kia Motors the K5 and Sportage, and GM Korea the Spark. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet brand's exit from Europe and economic slowdown in some emerging countries are given as cause for concern.

 

15-15-10  

 

Contact us: info@inovev.com 

  1. Produits/Services fournis par la PFA - FILIERE AUTOMOBILE & MOBILITES. (9)
  2. Asia's Small SUV Market: European, US Carmakers Are Taking the Lead
  3. Indian 2014 Automobile Export Up 5,9% to 710 000 units
  4. Indonesia Automobile Production in 2014: Up 7.5 Percent to 1.3 Million
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