Category Blog

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

The Opel Bochum plant will close down as soon as 2014

- The Opel plant in Bochum, Germany, will close down in 2014, two years earlier than formerly planned. Employees of the European subsidiary of General Motors have indeed rejected a restructuring plan negotiated by unions and management, which will lead to a complete shutdown of production in late 2014.

- This plant is the second one to be closed down by GM since 2010 (after the Antwerp one). In 2013, The U.S. has seven plants in Europe: Eisenach (Germany), Rüsselsheim (Germany), Bochum (Germany), Zaragoza (Spain), Ellesmere Port (UK), Luton (UK) and Gliwice (Poland ).

- GM plans to definitely stop the production of Opel ZafiraTourer MPV (114,000 units produced in 2012) on this site by the end of 2014. The model could be transferred to the Gliwice plant (which has already produced the Zafira in the past) or PSA Rennes, where production of an Opel model is planned, according to the 2012 GM-PSA agreements.

- It is to be noted that Opel is under strong pressure from GM to reduce its excess production capacity. Indeed, the production of Opel in Europe fell by nearly 36% between 2005 and 2012.

Data source: File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Registrations

Global sales (PC + LUV) up 2% in the first two months of 2013

- Global sales (PC + LCU) were down 7.2% in February 2013 (from February 2012). However the global market was up 2% in the first two months of 2013 (from the same two months of 2012) to 13.8 million registrations.

- The decrease of global market in February is mainly the consequence of an anticipation of Chinese consumer purchases in January (+38.4 % versus the same month in 2012) before the slowing activity period of the Chinese New Year (-11.2% versus the same month of 2012, down to 1.29 million vehicles). In parallel, Indian and Brazil markets were also down in February 2013 (from February 2012). India has experienced its worst performance in 12 years with a decline of 15.0%. Brazil was down 5.8%.

- The United States went just behind China with 1.19 million units (+3.8%).

- Europe (27 countries) was down 10.7% to 0.93 million units, while the region has already lost 20% of its sales between 2007 and 2012.

- Japan sales were lower than in the same month of last year 2012 (-14.5%, down to 0.48 million unit). However it is to be noted that 2012 Japanese production was high in February 2012 due to a catch-up effect following the 2011 Tsunami loss.

Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Registrations

The European market for passenger cars continues to decline

- The European market for passenger cars (27 countries) fell 10.7% in February 2013 (from February 2012 down to 825,071 units, following a decline of 8.2% in January 2013 (compared to January 2012).

- In February 2013, on the same area, following manufacturers continued to decline significantly: Ford (-24.4%), GM (-20.3%), Fiat-Chrysler (-15.4%), PSA (-13.3%), Geely (-11.9%), Renault-Nissan (-8.4%), VW (-7.2%) and Toyota (-6.7%). Four groups were more resilient: Hyundai-Kia (-5.1%), Daimler (-1.7%), BMW (-2.0%) and Tata (+5.5%) .

- On cumulative 2 months 2013: Ford (-23.8%), Geely (-16.0%), PSA (-14.7%), Toyota (-11.7%), Fiat-Chrysler (-13, 6%), VW (-6.9%)? Nissan-Renault (-7.1%), GM (-12.5%), Hyundai-Kia (+1.4%), Daimler (1, 1%), BMW (+2.5%) and Tata (+14.4%).

- The question now is whether this decline will continue or if a market rebound can be expected in 2013 it is unlikely that the European economy is doing better. However, it is possible to expect better conditions for the countries of Southern Europe. It should be noted that this decline is certainly due mainly to the economic situation but it is reinforced by structural factors: urban policy, carpooling, disaffection of young people ...

Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Chinese Geely will not take over Fisker

- Geely will not bid for Fisker Automotive. The Chinese owner of Volvo Car had been approached mid-March to acquire the strapped for cash Californian carmaker. The Chinese group found that the conditions of the U.S. Department of Energy (which has granted a loan of $ 529 million) relating to the maintenance of investments, capacity and employment of Fiskerplant in Wilmington were too risky.

- Fisker has not produced car since July 2012 and is looking for an investor to help it building its second model, the Atlantic. Geelysaid it was interested in Fisker and its Delaware plant (formerly owned by General Motors) that could produce Volvo for the U.S. market, in addition to Fisker hybrid engine vehicles.

- Geely could have positioned Fiskeras the premium brand of the group and strengthened Volvo on the US market against Premium brands Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

- The Chinese Dongfeng, competitor of Geely, is still vying to acquire Fiskerand has submitted its final offer last weekend.

Data source: File #104 - Worldwide Production data detailed by make from 2005 to 2012

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Mia Electric sold only 800 electric vehicles in Europe in 2012

- Mia Electric (whose factory is located in Cerizay, France, the former Heuliez plant) has not found its clientele in 2012. While it intended to sell 12,000 vehicles last year, the manufacturer sold only 800 ones, half in France. "The electric car market has not developed as quickly as we thought," says Mr. Lawrence Buffeteau, CEO of the company.

- Despite these poor results, Mia Electric believes in the future of his vehicle. The company even started the year well , having just signed a contract with UGAP (central purchasing the French public function) for the purchase of 500 vehicles over three years.

- Mia Electric also hopes to conquer new markets. The company wants to expand in Norway, whose electric vehicle fleet is the most developed in Europe (this specificity dates back to the electric “Think“ model that had been produced for several years in this country), but also in European southern countries (Italy, Greece, Turkey) .

- In order to make the vehicle more versatile, Mia Electric is also working to develop a hydrogen fueled Mia version (??!!). Autonomy would reach nearly 500 km, against only 125 km in the electric version. This project is at an early development stage.