Category Blog

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

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

Indonesian production has tripled in 10 years

- Indonesian production has tripled in 10 years, from 300,000 vehicles in 2002 to nearly 1 million vehicles in 2012. Economic growth in this country of 250 million people fosters the development of the market and the recent local automotive industry .

- Indonesia is one of the most dynamic countries in Asia, the 6th largest producer in the region after China, Japan, India, South Korea and Thailand. Indonesia overpassed Malaysia in 2008 and the gap has become wider and wider since.

- Indonesian production targets mainly the local market, whose motorization rate is still very low. In comparison, Thailand, neighboring country, exports most of its production in the world (especially pick-up).

- Manufacturers producing in Indonesia are mainly Japanese (Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Honda, Isuzu). Toyota group occupied by itself 56% of the country's production in 2012.

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.

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

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Scandinavian markets weather the crisis

- The Scandinavian automotive market has been remarkably resilient to the crisis, even better than Germany. Indeed, the volume of sales (passenger cars) in 2012 registered only a slight decrease (-3.5%) compared to 2007. In addition, the 2012 volume is modestly lower (-5%) than the peak of 2011, which marks the registrations record in this area.

- The four countries that make up this region (Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland) have suffered from the 2008-2009 crisis like other European countries, but the rebound has been remarkable in 2010. Two countries, Denmark and Norway, have even reached record sales in 2012, which is unique in Europe.

- This highlights the financial health of these countries (no debt) and consumer confidence as a result. Equipped with an auto industry that is gradually disintegrated (end of Saab), Volvo is the only survivor of this industry (but now Chinese). The Scandinavian markets source their cars externally, in Western Europe and Asia mainly . The leader group is now Volkswagen, far ahead of Volvo.