- Daimler plans to build a third production site in North America after the Tuscaloosa plant built in the late 90s and the one being built in Mexico with Nissan. The carmaker will start the production of future C-Class at its U.S. plant in Tuscaloosa next year, which therefore will draw near to its maximum capacity (250 000 vehicles per year).

- To increase its production in North America, Daimler therefore needs an additional factory. However, according to the direction of the German carmaker, the share of cars produced abroad must increase as 50% of Daimler vehicles (Passenger cars and light commercial vehicles) are sold outside Europe, while the group produces 90% of its models in Europe.

- So the manufacturer wants to bring the production of its models closer to regions of sales. The two main areas of exports of Mercedes cars are currently in North America and China. So these are two areas that will accommodate new production capacities, which will further strengthen the brand's presence.

- Regarding the future plant common to Daimler and Nissan, the German carmaker said that its Japanese partner would produce compact Mercedes (segment C), but not Mercedes upper segments (segments E and F).

  

- What is Dongfeng compared to PSA today? PSA fell below the 3 million vehicles worldwide in 2012, due to lower sales in the European market and forced to stop its activities in Iran (which still accounted for 460 000 vehicles in 2010 ).

- The year 2013 will be even worse because of the continued decline of sales in Europe (-12.3% over 8 months). Thus, PSA production will fall below one million vehicles in France in 2013 (Inovev forecast: between 900 000 and 930 000 units), and under 2.8 million worldwide

- For its part, the Chinese carmaker Dongfeng benefits from a continuous growth since the early 2000s, largely due to its JV (production license) with Nissan, Kia, Honda and ... PSA. 500 000 units produced in 2005, the production of Dongfeng will probably reach 3 million PV in 2013 (including 400 000 under the Dongfeng brand) that is more than PSA. Note, however, that among these 3 million cars produced by Dongfeng they include 500 000 PSA vehicles that the French manufacturer also recognizes in its numbers.

- PSA and Dongfeng have similar profiles: closely linked to their local markets (European and Chinese) which represent the bulk of their sales, production curves follow the dynamics of these markets: they intersect.

  

- The next Mini generation will be available in ten different variants (sedan, estate, coupe, convertible, roadster, SUV, SUV coupe, minivan, plug-in hybrid, electric). These will be based on the new compact front-wheel drive UKL platform (UnterKlasse) of the BMW Group.The future Mini models share this architecture with the entry range of the BMW brand such as the future 1 Series models.

- BMW said it planned to produce Mini models in the old Mitsubishi plant located in Born in the Netherlands. The latter, now managed by a Dutch company (VDL), Mini allow for additional capacity when the capacity of the Oxford plant (UK) will saturate. The maximum production capacity of Oxford plant now stands at 250 000 vehicles per year. SUVs will continue to be manufactured in Graz, Austria. The minivan could be manufactured in Born, the Netherlands.

- However, the brand has not planned to produce vehicles in China, although this market has great potential for Mini.

- The main competitor of the Mini, the Fiat 500, whose production has surpassed that of the Mini in 2013, The Fiat 500 is also available in several body variants: sedan 500, 500C (convertible), 500L (break), 500L Living (extended break).