Category Blog

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Insight of the Korean PC market over the 11 months 2013

- South Korea is the fourth largest car market in Asia (behind China, Japan and India) with just under 1.2 million passenger cars sold in the first 11 months of 2013.

- In a particularly dynamic continent (thanks to China and the ASEAN countries ), Korean market is almost stable in 2013 compared to 2012 (-0.24%). Foreign carmakers progress versus Korean carmakers (Hyundai-Kia, Renault Samsung, GM Korea and SsangYong Motor) with a growth of nearly 10% and a market share of 12%.

- Local carmakers suffer from cumulative effects of the late renewal of Korean carmakers vehicles range and delay in production, a consequence of strikes at Hyundai and Kia.

- Nevertheless, the market is still dominated by the Hyundai-Kia Group, which holds nearly 70% market share, followed by Chevrolet (formerly Daewoo, 9.4%), Ssangyong (4.8%) and Renault-Samsung (4.3%)

- The analysis by segment and body type highlights the predominance of D segment (41,7%) and C segment (28,7%). The market is divided into sedans (66% of body type), followed by SUV (22.8%), what is higher than what we can see in China or in Europe (around 16% for both zones).

- By models, the Kia Picanto, city car of the A segment, is the second best-selling vehicle behind the Hyundai Elantra,
a sedan of the C segment.

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Details: Published: 06 September 2022

PSA unveils the DS 5 LS specifically designed for the Chinese market

- Citroën unveiled the world premiere of the fourth vehicle of its DS range, intended exclusively for the Chinese market (for the moment) : DS 5 "LS", the initials LS mean "Luxury Sedan". Compared to the European DS 5, the body of the DS 5 LS is completely different with a sedan design (the European DS 5 is hatchback) with a grille on which the Citroën logo has disappeared completly, replaced by a DS logo.

- Indeed, in China DS is a brand in its own right, separate from Citroën and Peugeot. Sales networks are also separate, as well as production plants (Shenzhen Changan for DS, Wuhan Dongfeng for Citroën and Peugeot).

- In fact, PSA repeats the operation carried out in 1989 by Toyota with Lexus, Nissan with Infiniti and Honda with Acura, namely the creation of a separate and differentiated brand in terms of service and price.

- The DS 5 LS (a term that has already used by Lexus) will be produced in the Shenzhen plant, which has a production capacity of 200 000 vehicles per year. Wider and longer (4.70 m) than the European DS 5, the LS version also features a separate trunk, the DS 5 LS meets the usual Chinese luxury codes. However, it shares the same technical platform as the DS 5. The DS 5 LS is expected to have 50 000 customers in 2014, that same year a new DS will be launched exclusively for the Chinese market, the DS-X, an SUV based on the DS 5, and should also be marketed at about 50 000 units per year when it reaches cruising speed.

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Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Mercedes unveils the new C Class

- Mercedes has unveiled the new generation of its C Class (segment D) within the A Class (segment C) and E Class (segment E) range of the carmaker. This model competes primarily with the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Volvo S60 offered by premium brands, but it also addresses at a lesser extent the Ford Mondeo, Opel Insignia, Renault Laguna, Peugeot 508, Citroen C5 offered by generalist brands.

- Like all C Class vehicles, the new generation will be produced mainly in the German factory of Bremen (formerly the stronghold of the Borgward carmaker) and will be offered in several bodywork variants, including estate, coupe and convertible. An SUV should be derived from the new C Class: it will be the next generation GLK.

- Bremen production should range between 250 000 and 300 000 units per year, a production rate already attained by previous generations, but at the time did not have a Mercedes direct competitor like the recent CLA. The CLA is indeed a 4-door sedan with a size and a price close to that of the C Class.

- The new C Class should also be made in China, South Africa (like previous generations) and in the United States (this market is a new addition) production will be destined only for the local market.

- In chronological order, the new C Class comes just after the BMW 3 Series (2012) and just before the Audi A4 (2015).

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Details: Published: 06 September 2022

The USA market in 2013

- The U.S. market has rose by 8.3% over the first 11 months of 2013 compared to the first 11 months of 2012, and thus could end the year with an increase of between 8% and 9%.

- All major manufacturers are on the rise over the first 11 months except for the Hyundai-Kia group that is stable: GM Group (+8.8%), Ford Group (+11.7%), Fiat-Chrysler Group (+8.6%), Toyota Group (+8.3%), Renault-Nissan Group (+9.2%), Honda Group (+7.8%), BMW Group (+9.2%), Daimler Group (+12.2% ) VW Group (+0.6%).

- Figures by models are only available for the first 9 months of 2013. Regarding passenger cars, the Toyota Camry remains the leader in front of four other Japanese sedans: Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Nissan Altima, Toyota Corolla.

- Ford and GM each rank two models in the top ten but at the back of the pack (6th, 7th, 9th, 10th place).

- In terms of segmentation, five D segment sedans and five C segment sedans hold the top ten places.

- Regarding LCV (under 3.5 tons), the first three places as always revert to American origin pick-up vans: Ford F Series, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram. Followed by five SUVs, of which two are Japanese (Honda CRV and Toyota RAV4).

- Japanese manufacturers have been less successful in the LCV category than in the PCs category. In 2013, as many PCs as LCV where sold in the U.S. market, but the LCV market is more concentrated.

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Read more... The USA market in 2013

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

USA market segmentation

- The outline of car market segments in the USA is slightly different from that of Europe. First, the SUV (off-road leisure vehicles), CUV (crossover), MPV (minivans) and pick-up vans are included in the category of LCV (Long commercial vehicles) while in Europe only pick-up vans are included in the LCV segment which consists mainly of small vans.

- On the other hand, specific car market segments were created in the United States (small saloons, saloons, intermediate, full size and luxury) but they can be compared to European car market segments B, C, D, E, F.

- This enables us to compare the market segmentation of the U.S. and Europe, with one final clarification: Inovev includes CUV (crossover) in the SUV segment, because the distinction between SUV and CUV is difficult.

- In the United States, SUVs are far ahead of all other segments. The market share went from 25% in 2000 to over 30% in 2013. Segment D (midsize sedan) is in second place and has also increased but more slowly than SUVs. Segment C (compact sedan) is third and has also progressed over the period. It overtook the market share of pickup vans, the pick-up van segment is the segment that has declined the most.

- Segments E (full size) and MPV (minivans) have declined significantly since 2000 (a loss of 5 points for each segment) whereas segment share of cars long abandoned has resurfaced: segment B (semi-compact sedans) which gives a new vision of the needs of American driver (economical cars and small urban trips).

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