PSA wants to produce its B-segment models outside of France
- Details
- The announcement of the production transfer in 2016 of the Citroen C3 Picasso from the PSA plant in Trnava (Slovakia) to the GM plant in Zaragoza (Spain) will induce changes within the French group. By losing this model (55 000 units in 2013), the Trnava plant would only be used at 64% of its 300 000 units of its theoretical capacity.
- To compensate this loss, PSA has decided to transfer the production of the Peugeot 208 (entry and mid-range ) from Poissy to Trnava, a production of 50 000 units in 2013. Which leaves 60 000 theoretical units that would still be produced in Trnava.
- Based on PSA's announcement of wanting to produce urban vehicles out of France, the transfer scenario of the Peugeot 208, currently produced in Mulhouse is possible. Today 50 000 units are produced per year, the model could thus fill the production capacity of the Trnava plant and bring the plant utilization rate to nearly 97%.
- What about the Poissy plant? In the long term (2016-2018), only high-end finishes of both the Peugeot 208 and the Citroën DS3 (Premium version of the Citroën C3) are guaranteed to be produced at Poissy. This could mean a production transfer of future Citroën C3 outside of France (possibly to Villaverde in Spain, alongside the C4 Cactus?).
- Without these models, the Poissy plant would only be used at 50% of its capacity. Is PSA planning to increase the production of its French plant? The arrival of a new 'Premium" model (DSX SUV or sedan DS2?) might be the solution. However, according to our estimates, the arrival of a new "Premium" model would hardly compensate for the loss announced because of the Peugeot 208 and the likely loss of the Citroën C3 . Let us recall that in 2013, PSA committed to increase its production in France.
Read more... PSA wants to produce its B-segment models outside of France
New segment A models unveiled at the New Delhi auto expo of 2014
- Details
- The New Delhi Auto Expo 2014 has put great emphasis on small sedans from segment A, this segment represents the largest part of the Indian car market. India is indeed the country that has the largest proportion of small cars.
- To revive the Indian market down by nearly 8% in 2013 (compared to 2012), local manufacturers have unveiled their new models and future projects of small sedans from segment A: Suzuki introduced the Celerio (which replaces the Alto) Tata has presented the Bolt (a hatchback) and Zest (a sedan), Ford introduced the new Figo, Hyundai presented the Xcenta sedan model derived from the recent i10 hatchback, Chevrolet introduced the Adra, a small SUV and Nissan introduced the Datsun Redi-Go
- These inexpensive models are less than 4 meters long, in order to benefit from the tax advantages given to this type of model in Indi, these models are inspired by the K-cars (Midget car) from Japan.
- A leader (Maruti-Suzuki) and a challenger (Hyundai-Kia) achieve 57% of vehicle sales in India. Tata failed to impose itself in the top 2 with its Nano that has not found a sufficient amount of buyers. Renault who is positioned rather at the top of the market, sells mainly the SUV Duster. But the French manufacturer has decided to also produce the Lodgy MPV to complete its Indian range and compete with the Toyota Innova MPV. It has also decided to launch an entry level vehicle (segment A) a very low cost model along the lines of the Datsun Redi-Go unveiled at the New Delhi Auto Expo.
Read more... New segment A models unveiled at the New Delhi auto expo of 2014
The European market for LUV stagnated in 2013
- Details
Renault is removing the Fluence ZE from its range
- Details
Read more... Renault is removing the Fluence ZE from its range
The new generation Renault Trafic, Opel Vivaro, Nissan NV300
- Details
- The next generation Renault Trafic, Vivaro and Nissan NV300, which share the same body and the same platforms will be launched during the summer of 2014, after having seen their launch been postponed twice.
- Current generations of these three models are produced on both the GM plant of Luton (Great Britain) and on the Renault-Nissan plant of Barcelona (Spain). The next generation of Trafic and NV300 will be manufactured at the Renault-Nissan plant of Sandouville and the next generation Vivaro in the Luton plant.
- The Sandouville plant will therefore become a 100% dedicated plant to LCV whereas today it also produces PC (Laguna and Espace).
- The new generations of the Espace and the Laguna (planned for 2014 and 2015 respectively) will be manufactured in the Douai plant (alongside the Renault Scénic). This is a significant production transfer for the Renault-Nissan group.
- The arrival of the new Trafic and NV300 will take place in a context of massive under-utilization of the plant (poor sales of the Espace and Laguna). With these new models, Sandouville should quickly regain a utilization rate of around 70% (ie. 100 000 vehicles produced out of a production capacity of 150 000 per year).
- For the Barcelona plant, the production loss due to commercial vehicles will be compensated by the arrival of a Nissan sedan from segment C. As regards to the Luton plant, GM has not announced any new models to compensate for the loss of production there.
Read more... The new generation Renault Trafic, Opel Vivaro, Nissan NV300