The Dodge Sprinter will be replaced by the Fiat Ducato
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The Dodge Sprinter will be replaced by the Fiat Ducato
- Dodge (Fiat-Chrysler group) has always had in its range a series of vans (Ram Van and Ram Wagon) that were competing with the Ford Econoline (E Series), Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana.
- After the taking control of the Chrysler Group by the Daimler-Benz group in 1998, it decided to replace the old Dodge Ram Van and Ram Wagon by the Mercedes Sprinter. This replacement took place in 2004.
- The Mercedes Sprinter was then produced by Chrysler in the United States and sold under the Dodge badge. Its production ceased in 2009, while the Daimler-Benz group had just opted out of the Chrysler Group two years earlier and the American carmaker was placed under bankruptcy.
- The Chrysler Group was then acquired by the Fiat Group (2010), who decided to replace the Dodge Sprinter with its own Fiat Ducato under the Dodge brand.
- The replacement took place in January 2014. The model is now called the Dodge Ram Promaster. It is produced in the Chrysler plant of Toluca, Mexico. The manufacturer expects 25 000 annual sales, the Dodge Sprinter had never exceeded 23 000 annual sales. Chrysler manufactures and markets a van initially produced for Europe in North America , like Ford has done with its Transit which replaces the old Econoline a 100% American model. The U.S. van market is increasingly becoming similar to its EU counterpart.
Read more... The Dodge Sprinter will be replaced by the Fiat Ducato
The Renault Zoe has finally been launched on the Norwegian market
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The Renault Zoe has finally been launched on the Norwegian market
- Renault has launched the Zoe its electric vehicle in the Norwegian market a year after most other European countries. Norway, however, is the country with most electric vehicles per capita. These represent 12% of the Norwegian fleet. Norwegian motorists indeed benefit from an exemption of 25% VAT on the purchase of an electric vehicle. Meanwhile, they enjoy many advantages such as free charging stations and free public car parks, the ability to drive in bus lanes or even the exemption of congestion charges.
- Currently, 26 000 electric vehicles run in Norway and the Government is committed to maintain its tax incentives until 2017.
- In 2013, the Leaf was sold at 4 600 copies, representing 54% of sales of electric vehicles over the year. In the first quarter of 2014, two electric vehicles are ranked in the TOP 3 best selling vehicles: The Tesla Model S, with just over 2 000 units and the Nissan Leaf with just over 1 500 units. In March 2014, electric vehicles have represented for the first time, over 20% of the vehicles registered in the country.
- Norway is a real opportunity for the Zoe, that could see its sales increase very quickly and thus revive this model in Europe (10 000 sales over 18 months on the market).
Read more... The Renault Zoe has finally been launched on the Norwegian market
BMW has decided to build a second plant in North America
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BMW has decided to build a second plant in North America
- BMW imports from Europe to the U.S. reach between 200 000 and 300 000 cars each year (300 000 in 2013) and this volume could rise up to 350 000 over the next two years. Among this total, the Series 3 represent between 100 000 and 150 000 imports each year (120 000 in 2013).
- The position of BMW in the USA is expected to strengthen in coming years, with sales growth due to a broadening of its range. However, BMW plants in Europe and the U.S. are close to saturation and there has been no mentioning yet of importing to the USA, BMW vehicles from Chinese plants. Thus the German carmaker has decided to build a new plant in North America dedicated to the 3-Series sold in this region which will be effective in 2016.
- Situated in Mexico, the plant will have a capacity of 150 000 units per year. The Bavarian manufacturer has the same strategy as Mercedes that has decided to produce its new C-Class at its U.S. plant in Tuscaloosa (Alabama), and as Audi that now produces the Q5 in Mexico, for the needs of U.S. customers but also for European customers. In addition, BMW will expand its plant in Spartanburg (South Carolina). The production capacity of the U.S. plant will reach 450 000 units per year by 2016, in order to produce the SUVs X3, X4, X5, X6 and a future X7.
Read more... BMW has decided to build a second plant in North America
Chrysler introduces the new generation 200
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Chrysler introduces the new generation 200
- The Fiat-Chrysler Group has just launched the new generation of the Chrysler 200 (segment D), the successor to a model dating back to 1995 and initially named the Sebring. The new Chrysler 200 will be sold only in North America and will be produced in the Sterling Heights plant (Michigan). The carmaker expects 150 000 annual sales.
- The new Chrysler 200 will use the platform of the Dodge Dart (segment C), whose wheelbase was lengthened by 20cm. It must be reminded that these two platforms are derived from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta.
- The range of Chrysler and Dodge passenger cars therefore tends more and more towards an integration of the platforms from the Fiat group. Indeed, the D-segment Dodge (called Avenger) will be launched in 2015 on the same platform as the Alfa Giulietta.
- The remaining vehicles are the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and the Challenger, these models are still equipped with an old Mercedes E-Class platform(dating back to Daimler-Chrysler agreements), but these models should be equipped with a new propulsion platform at their replacement, resulting from Maserati and two Alfa-Romeo models, the Giulia and the future Alfetta.
- Chrysler and Dodge Minivans, pickups and SUVs will keep their specific platforms, while the Jeep markets a Cherokee from the Alfa Romeo Giulietta platform and a Renegade with a Fiat 500 platform.
World production 2013/2012: Increases and decreases
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World production 2013/2012: Increases and decreases
- Global automobile production has increased by almost 4% in 2013 to 87 million vehicles. However, all countries are not receiving equal treatment.
- Those who have progressed: China and the U.S. have experienced the strongest increase in terms of volume, driven by the growth and scope of their domestic market. Latin America and ASEAN were helped by both the growth of the domestic market and their growth in exports. Germany, Spain and the UK have benefited more from their exports than from their domestic market. Finally, Romania and Morocco have greatly benefited from exports of Dacia vehicles.
- Those who have declined: Japan and Korea in 2013 suffered both from a national market decline and stagnant exports due to localized production. Most countries of Eastern Europe suffered in 2013, as well as some Western European countries, because of a European market decline. Russia and India have suffered from a decline in their domestic market. Finally, Iran and Australia have suffered from more specific factors: the embargo in Iran and the scheduled end of car production in Australia.
- In 2014, in view of the rebooting of the European, Japanese, Korean, Iranian and Indian markets, most manufacturing countries should see their production volumes grow. Only Australia will continue to reduce its production.
Read more... World production 2013/2012: Increases and decreases
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