- Inovev has conducted for the first five months of 2013, two tables of 20 European plants with the highest rates of use and 20 European plants with the lowest utilisation rates.

- The plants with the highest rate of use are characterized by the renewal of a successful model (Wolfsburg with the VW Golf VII, Ingolstadt with the Audi A3 or Munich with the BMW 3 Series), the introduction of a new model (like the Rastatt and Kecskemét plants with the new Class A along side the Class B), extending the model range of a carmaker (The Halewood plant of the Tata Group and the range Rover Evoque or the Opel Adam at Eisenach), the transfer of a vehicle inside the same group (the PSA Poissy plant and the Peugeot 208 and Citroen C3).

- Plants with the lowest utilization rates are characterized by either a planned closure (PSA with the  Aulnay plant and Ford with Genk), or waiting for a new model (future Citroën Villaverde, future Fiat and B-segment Jeep in Melfi ...), a planed shutdown or transfer of a vehicle (the Fiat-Chrysler Cassino plant) or the production of a vehicle on declining segments (Renault-Nissan with Scénic produced in Douai), or model failure and oversizing the production plant (Dresden with the VW Phaeton).

Data source: File #12 - European production versus plant capacities

- Until the late 60s, England was ahead of France in terms of car production volume. While production in France continued to grow in the 70s, 80s and 90s, Britain experienced a serious crisis in its automobile industry, which was responsible for the disappearance of a dozen major brands (Austin, Morris, Triumph, Hillman, Sunbeam, etc.).

- In the 2000s, French manufacturers relocated an important part of their production, which mechanically weakens the volume of production conducted in France. At the same time, in England, the arrival of Japanese manufacturers (Toyota, Nissan, Honda) and the recovery of local carmakers such as Mini (BMW), Jaguar and Land Rover (Tata Motors) had the effect of boosting production in England, even though GM and Ford were steadily reducing their implementation. In 2012, the gap has never been so narrow between England and France (since 1970) for the above : 1.6 million vehicles produced in England against 2 million in France.

- In the future production in France, however, will remain higher than in England. Indeed, France has an installed production capacity of 3 million vehicles per year and different announcements by carmakers call for a revival of production on French soil. At the same time, the installed capacity in England does not exceed 2 million vehicles per year and their are no new plant openings and no plant projects have been announced. Theoretically, therefore, there cannot be a strong growth in the automobile production in England in the coming years.

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models

- Apart from its partnership with SAIC-Wuling for minibus, General Motors sells its products in China under three different brands: Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac. Buick and Chevrolet are made locally by the Chinese automaker SAIC. Cadillacs are imported from North America (mainly USA).

- In 2012, the group sold 697,000 Buick, 30,000 Chevrolet and 689,000 Cadillac. To meet the Premium market development in China and in order to compete with other brands, General Motors also wants to produce in China its premium brand Cadillac, once again with its partner SAIC.

- To achieve this goal, General Motors has started the construction of a new factory in Shanghai, China, which will produce Cadillac models for the Chinese market. The site will have a production capacity of 160,000 units per year and will start operations in 2015.

- The American manufacturer has announced its ambition to occupy 10% of the Chinese market of the Premium range by 2020, four times more than at the present. General Motors has recently indicated that it intended to introduce a new Cadillac model in the Chinese market each year until 2016, to bring the brand sales from 30,000 units in 2012 to 100 000 in 2015.

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models