Honda unveils its mini SUV, the Vezel
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- The success of the mini-SUV Nissan Juke has given food for thought to many manufacturers. Opel and Chevrolet with the twin models Mokka and Trax waited two years before launching their models to compete with the Juke (which was launched in 2012). In 2013, Renault (with the Captur model) and Peugeot (with the 2008 model) entered this market that has great growth potential.
- The mini-SUV market (segment B) has made SUVs very popular. SUVs were first marketed in mid-range and premium segments (segments D and E), they were then launched in the compact car segment (segment C).
- The trend for SUVs having been real for ten years now (almost 16.5% of the market in 2013 against 7.8% in 2008), it was clear that the mini-SUV category would experience the same success as the standard SUV category.
- Some carmakers such as Volkswagen, Ford or Toyota (which was already present on this market in the 90s’ with the first versions of RAV4) have been reluctant to enter the market,as it was deemed unprofitable and too small. Fiat missed the market with its Sedici model which was not quite adapted to the market. The Italian manufacturer had experienced the same issue with the Multipla model in the minivan market . The 500X should hopefully be more successful.
- Today, Honda is preparing to launch a competitor to the Nissan Juke. The Vezel unveiled at Tokyo should be launched in Europe in 2014. It should be produced in Swindon (England) alongside the CRV, Civic and Jazz.
New game of musical chairs in the PSA plant
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This is what seems to have motivated the decision to transfer in the same year the future 5008 in Rennes.
2012 European production in the first nine manufacturers by country
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Read more... 2012 European production in the first nine manufacturers by country
Since the end of the USRR 20 different brands have established themselves in Russia
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- Russia produced almost 2 million passenger cars in 2012 and will produce between 1.8 and 1.9 million in 2013, due to a market decline of 5 to 7% this year (exports are very low).
- Production is now very diverse since the state has prompted international brands to establish themselves in Russia. In the early 90s, there were only four carmakers in Russia: AvtoVAZ, GAZ, AZLK and UAZ. All 4 were national brands.
- Today, there are twenty different brands:
§ Five are produced by Avtotor (the name of a local assembly company): BMW, Kia, Chevrolet, Opel and Cadillac. Avtotor is the second Russian manufacturer behind AvtoVAZ (owned by the Renault-Nissan group).
§ AvtoVAZ remains by far the largest manufacturer in Russia.
§ Volkswagen, Ford, Hyundaihave built their own plants locally.
§ Renault has developed an existing plant.
§ Japanese brands, such as Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi and Suzuki also follow the trend.
§ Chinese brands such as Great Wall, Lifan, Geely, have only recently established themselves, while Chery has stopped its production in Russia.
- In 2013, the locally assembled cars accounted for 67% of the total PC market, against 66% in 2012 and 65% in 2011.
Read more... Since the end of the USRR 20 different brands have established themselves in Russia
Japanese carmakers in the US
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- Japanese manufacturers gradually established themselves in the United States in the 80s, in order to reduce the volume of exports from Japan and also take advantage of a local presence in order to increase their sales in this market, which is one of the worlds largest markets.
- In 2013, they will have produced a total of 4 million vehicles locally (thus displaying a new production record), while they continue to import from Japan a large number of vehicles (1.5 million vehicles estimated for 2013), mainly premium range models which aren't assembled in the United States.
- Toyota and Honda are the largest Japanese producers established in the United States (each producing about 1.5 million vehicles in 2013). They are followed by Nissan (800 000 units in 2013) and Subaru (200 000 units in 2013). Mitsubishi and Mazda have for their part almost stopped all production in the United States.
- While in 2011 Toyota and Honda suffered from the consequences of the tsunami in Japan (March 2011), particularly regarding parts and components, in 2012 and 2013 both manufactures had a sharp increase of their US production. Nissan suffered slightly less than its competitors and its production increased significantly in 2012 and 2013. Only Subaru production has stagnated in the U.S.A. for two years.
