Toyota IQ has failed to make a breakthrough on the world market
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- The Toyota IQ, one of the shortest vehicle in the car market, could not prevail in any country. Positioned as a competitor of the Smart Fortwo, but with three seats instead of two, the Japanese model was proposed at a price (13 500 to 17 500 Euros) probably too high to allow it to compete efficiently with the Smart (10 000 to 15,000 Euros). The IQ was designed to address the small urban chic car clientele, but the model was probably considered too expensive .
- For a price lower than the IQ, Toyota offers the Aygo (9500 to 12 500 Euros). For a price similar to the IQ, Toyota sells the Yaris (13 200-19 500 euros), with more roominess. The Audi A1 which is also a chic supermini is not much more expensive (17 000-25 000 Euros) and offers much greater roominess and a more rewarding, image , as well as the Mini (16 000-30 000 Euros ).
- While the carmaker had set a target of 100,000 sales per year (annual sales level of the Smart Fortwo), the Toyota IQ has never overpassed 60 000 vehicles per year and quickly fell down to less than 20,000 vehicles per year.
Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes
Read more... Toyota IQ has failed to make a breakthrough on the world market
The Fiat Group might decide to no longer produce passenger cars of Fiat brand in Italy
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Read more... The Fiat Group might decide to no longer produce passenger cars of Fiat brand in Italy
The Austrian market has not suffered from the crisis of 2008-2009
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- The Austrian market has well weathered the 2008-2009 crisis. The volume of registrations (passenger cars), which was 296,000 units in 2007 and 294,000 in 2008, has not fallen below 300,000 between 2009 and 2012.
- The Austrian market has actually peaked in 2011, a rare phenomenon in Europe, with 356,000 units. On the other hand, if we consider the period 2000-2008, this market is finally remained stable (around 300 000 units per year), and the years 2009-2012 were the best of the decade.
- The Austrian market is characterized by the overwhelming dominance of Volkswagen cars in 10 top bestsellers: 8 VW group cars in the top 10: 1st: VW Golf, 2nd: VW Tiguan, 3rd: VW Polo, 4th: Skoda Octavia, 5th; Skoda Fabia, 6th Seat Ibiza, 9th : VW Passat, 10th : Audi A4. The other cars present in top 10 are: Hyundai i30 is at 7th position, Ford Fiesta at 8th position.
- Considering carmakers, the VW group is market leader ahead of Hyundai-Kia and Renault-Nissan. American groups GM and Ford are largely overpassed by the Korean group Hyundai-Kia.
Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes
Read more... The Austrian market has not suffered from the crisis of 2008-2009
Nissan Leaf sales take off in the U.S.
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- Nissan Leaf sales begins to take off in the U.S.A. Sales were around 500 vehicles per month between January 2012 and July 2012 (more than in full 2011), then raised to 1500 vehicles per month between August 2012 and December 2012 and more than 2 000 vehicles in March 2013. Sales have therefore now overpassed sales of Chevrolet Volt.
- This strong growth (for an electric model) is expected to last. The Nissan Leaf is indeed produced in the U.S.A since December 2012 (3000 units produced in March 2013), and the made-in-USA version is offered with a $6 000 discount against the made-in-Japan version Nissan has developed a new Leaf strategy : produce outside of Japan vehicles to be sold in North America and Europe.
- Nissan plans a strong sales growth in Europe, where the model is assembled in Great-Britain since December 2012. This model is less expensive by 3000 Euros compared to the previous version that came from Japan. More than 1 000 Leaf vehicles were sold in March 2013 in Europe.
Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes
The Swiss market has broken its record in 2012
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- The Swiss market has well weathered the 2008-2009 crisis. The volume of registrations (passenger cars), which was 286 000 units in 2007 and 289,000 in 2008, has not fallen below 250,000 in 2009, and increased to 294,000 in 2010, 319,000 in 2011 and 328,000 in 2012, setting a new registration record .
- The Swiss market has reached its peak in 2012, a rare phenomenon in Europe. On the other hand, if we consider the period 2000-2012, the market level is remained stable (around 300 000 units per year).
- The Swiss market is characterized by the overwhelming dominance of Volkswagen cars in 10 top bestsellers: 7 VW group cars in the top 10: 1st: VW Golf, 2nd: Skoda Octavia, 3rd: VW Polo, 4th: VW Tiguan, 5th; VW Passat, 6th VW Touran 10th : Audi A4. The other cars present in top 10 are: Mercedes C-Class is at 7th position, Ford Fiesta at 8th position , Opel Astra at 9th position.
- Considering carmakers, Volkswagen Group is the undisputed leader in this market to Renault-Nissan and PSA. American groups GM and Ford are ahead of the Korean group Hyundai-Kia.
Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes