The American carmakers continue to offshore production to Mexico and Canada
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This offshore strategy (vehicle manufacturing to countries with cheaper labor) continues in the 2000s.
The production volume in Mexico is 29% of the production volume in USA in 2012, against 24% in 2008 and 13% in 2005. Most car manufacturers producing in the United States are now present in Mexico.
The production volume in Canada is 24% of the production volume in USA in2012 , against 23% in 2008 and 21 % in 2005. Most car manufacturers producing in the United States are now present in Mexico.
Read more... The American carmakers continue to offshore production to Mexico and Canada
Opel increased in January with new Mokka and Adam
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Both models fit well in the current epoch atmosphere. The Mokka is a small crossover (crossover market continues to grow in Europe) with a nice look. The Adam is a small urban chic and trendy vehicle (market of these vehicles also grows) inspired by the Citroën DS3, Mini and Fiat 500.
Read more... Opel increased in January with new Mokka and Adam
European market decreasing on
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Qoros unveils two new versions of its European car
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- As stated previously by Inovev, the Chinese manufacturer Qoros (brand created by Chery) has ambition to sell its vehicles in Europe on a large scale, So far, all attempts of Chinese carmakers to market vehicles in Europe at significant levels have all failed, mainly because of poor results in the Euro NCAP crash test. It was in particular the case of Brilliance which had been considered as the first one to be in position to come to Europe As Brilliance cars used to, Qoros cars have no real personality but are pleasing to the eye. But Qoros differentiates itself from Brilliance by the way it is designed and engineered. The Qoros 3 (ex GQ3) was designed from the very start in partnership with many European suppliers in order to be in position to obtain good ratings in crash tests.
- The sedan vehicle is 4.62 m long and 1.84 m wide. It will compete with the Volkswagen Jetta, Renault Fluence and Skoda Octavia.
- At launch, the full range will be equipped with gasoline engines. The four-cylinder 1.6 will be available in atmospheric version (126 hp) and turbo version (156 hp), either with a manual or dual-clutch. Qoros has also stated that it has worked with AVL on new direct injection turbo blocks, a three-cylinder 1.2 and a four-cylinder 1.6 engines. There is no diesel version but a hybrid one, fitted with the three-cylinder turbo 1.2. engine.
- Adapted to the Chinese market where sedan with trunks prevail, the Qoros 3 Sedan is not a relevant offer for Europe. This is why Qoros plans to quickly widen its range. The first version to be launched will be a station wagon with a silhouette very close to the sedan’s. it will be followed by a five-door hatchback version. The concept car which will be presented in Geneva motorshow next March prefigures the future compact hatchback version, in position of attacking the heart of the compact market.
Data source : File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe
Read more... Qoros unveils two new versions of its European car
Tofas plans to export Doblos to North America
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- Tofas is a Turkish automaker headquartered in Istanbul and whose production site is located in Bursa. From a joint venture between the Turkish group Koç and the Italian group Fiat, it has built several Fiat range models under license since January 1971.
- Tofas has announced plans to export the light utility vehicle Doblo to North America (from late 2014), where it would be marketed by Chrysler under the brand Ram (20 000 units per year are planned).
- Tofas has also indicated that it is working on two new cars for the Turkish market but also for export: a compact sedan and a hatchback model which would be marketed from 2015. Vehicles based on Fiat Linea would replace the current Lineas which are manufactured on the site of Bursa and whose origins date back to 2006.
- Tofas seeks new opportunities to offset weak European markets. It expects to sell 270,000 vehicles in 2013, including 110,000 vehicles for the local market and 160,000 vehicles for export.
- Tofas thinks that the Turkish market will be stable in 2013 compared to 2012, at about 750,000 units. Its market share is expected to be between 13 and 15%. This partner of Fiat which manufactures Doblos, Fiorinos and Lineas (and derived models for Peugeot, Citroën and Opel) is one of the three largest manufacturers located in Turkey, by the side of Ford and Renault.





