The Opel plant in Rüsselsheim will manufacture two new models

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The Opel plant in Rüsselsheim will manufacture two new models

- In order to make greater use of its existing production abilities, the Opel plant in Rüsselsheim (Germany) will host the production of two additional vehicles, a Buick model intended to be exported to the United States. It will probably be the American version of the future Opel Insignia due to be launched in 2017.

- Indeed, the GM plant where is currently produced the Buick Regal (U.S. version of the Opel Insignia 2008-2017) is close to saturation (296 743 units manufactured in 2013 for a total capacity of 300 000) due to a U.S. market continuously increasing  since 2009, while GM was forced to close several plants at that same time. Regarding the Rüsselsheim plant, it is now operating at only  70% of its capacity.

- Opel did not specify what would be the second model to be assembled in the future Rüsselsheim plant, but it will not be the new generation Astra since the manufacturer has previously decided to transfer the production of the Astra from Rüsselsheim to Gliwice, this transfer  will be effective in 2015.

- We also know that the Rüsselsheim plant will produce the Zafira MPV (which was assembled in Bochum so far) from the end of 2014, and its future generation should be manufactured in the PSA plant of Sochaux (France). Manufacturing Buick vehicles should allow Opel to improve the rate of use of its German factories, which were used on average at 70% of their capacity in 2013.


14-13-2  

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Chinese carmakers strategies for electric vehicles

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Chinese carmakers strategies for electric vehicles

- Although electric vehicle sales are still marginal in China (less than 30,000 sales scheduled for 2014 ), the electric vehicle market in China becomes an important issue for carmakers in the country. The vow of the State to address the problems of pollution, especially in large Chinese cities, will be accompanied by incentives and the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

- In this high-potential market, Chinese vehicle manufacturers do not have to be left behind and position themselves in different ways.
Strategies, existing or to come, can be classified into several categories:
- Production of  electric vehicles under existing Chinese carmakers own brand, such as BYD E6 Crossover done with his or BAIC with E150.
- Creation of new brands 100% electric, in JV with non-Chinese manufacturers (Venucia , Zinoro , Huaqi ...)
- Buyouts with the target of acquiring technologies, such as the recent acquisition by Geely of Emerald, a British company specializing in converting thermal engine vehicles into electric motor vehicles.
- Acquisition of  a carmakers in difficulty(such as the recent acquisition of Fisker by Wanxiang) .
- Outside the domestic market, the partnership with a local producer as JAC with GreenTech Automotive USA.
- And eventually, production in China  under JV of an electric vehicle already marketed outside China as the way that VW could produce the e-Up! with a Chinese partner ( FAW ? SAIC ?).


14-12-9  

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Who is Fengshen?

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Who is Fengshen?

- This week, the management of PSA (whose Dongfeng holds 14% of the capital) raised the possibility of selling vehicles of Fengshen brand in Europe in the future. But who is Fengshen, this brand unknown in Europe?


- Fengshen is a Chinese automobile manufacturer founded in 2009 and belonging to the Dongfeng Group. The first model of the brand was the 4 door sedan (C segment ) S30, unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show in April 2009. Marketed in China in July 2009, it was followed in January 2011 by  the sedan H30, a five-door derived from the S30.


- Both models are based on the platform of the Peugeot 307, which is produced by Dongfeng JV since 2004.
The models S30 ( Sedan 30) and H30 ( Hatchback 30) are produced alongside the crossover H30 Cross, which displays a more SUV style.


- The A60 sedan (segment D) was unveiled in November 2011 and sold in China in March 2012.
It is based on the platform of the Nissan Sylphy, produced since 2000  by Dongfeng - under a JV with Nissan - under the name Nissan Bluebird.


- Fengshen, manufacturing four models, produced 73,068 vehicles in 2013 (against 65,993 in 2012) and began exporting its cars from September 2012, when the brand was launched in Venezuela.


14-12-8  

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Fisker taken over by a Chinese automotive supplier

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Fisker taken over by a Chinese automotive supplier

- After having become insolvent and placed on auction in October 2013 by the U.S. government, Fisker was finally taken over by the Chinese automotive supplier Wanxiang.

- Fisker was an independent American manufacturer, founded in 2007, four years after Tesla. The only model which was  launched ( in 2008) and produced until today was the electric segment F sedan Karma, equipped with two electric motors and a range extender. Its positioning was in direct competition with the Tesla S Model, but Karma did not experience the same success as the S model.

- The Fisker Karma was produced in Finland at the assembly plant  of the company Valmet (which used to assemble the Porsche Boxster / Cayman). Nearly 3000 vehicles were produced in 2012, the same year that Tesla produced 3,300 units (but Tesla manufactured almost 24 000 vehicles  in 2013).

- Wanxiang is a  Chinese automotive supplier. It owns the company A123 Systems, which used to  supply the batteries of Fisker’s model .

- By acquiring the Californian carmaker, Wanxiang aims to produce about 2,000 Karma yearly  and sell them in the U.S.A.(1 000 per year), Europe (500 per year) and China (500 per year). The question is where these vehicles will be produced. Actually the Valmet factory is now saturated with the production of the Mercedes A Class. Wanxiang, which committed itself to produce in the USA , does not have any vehicle assembly plant. To meet its commitment, Wanxiang will have either to buy an existing plant, or build one (which seems difficult in view of the small quantities to produce), or develop a partnership with a local car assembler (partnership similar to the one planned by Chinese automaker JAC with the American producer GreenTech Automotive).


14-12-9  

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Europe imports fewer and fewer vehicles

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Europe imports fewer and fewer vehicles

- Unlike European exports, imports recorded in Europe continued to decline in 2013, down by 1.5% to 3.30 million passenger cars (against 3 350 000 in 2012 and 3 650 000 in 2011) .


- By observing the origin of these imports, we can see a clear predominance of Asian countries:

- Korea (275 000 units), but this country will lower the number of imports of Chevrolet to Europe (145 000 units in 2013), preparing the removal of this brand on this continent in 2016.

- Japan (190 000 units).

- India (110 000 units), which will nevertheless stop delivering the Suzuki Alto to Europe as from June 2014 (32 000 units in 2013)

- Thailand (45 000 units), which also became a significant country in terms of exports, with the Suzuki brand, that will export the Celerio as from July 2014 to replace the Alto.


- The NAFTA region has delivered 250 000 vehicles to Europe last year. Morocco has gradually become a major car exporting country to Europe, due to the launch of the Tangier plant (which currently produces the Dacia Lodgy and Dokker). In 2013, Morocco delivered more than 50 000 vehicles to Europe (twice the amount produced in 2012). In 2014, with the arrival of the Sandero and the increasing sales rate on the site of Tangier, we can expect that 100 000 vehicles will be exported from Morocco to Europe.


14-12-7  

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