Category Blog

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Indian market slows down

-According to SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), LIght Vehicles segment grew at 6.80 percent during April-January 2013 over same period last year. Passenger Cars declined by (-) 1.80 percent, Light Utility Vehicles grew by 56.87 percent and Vans grew by 2.63 percent during April-January 2013 as compared to the same period last year. However, in January 2013 passenger car sales further declined by (-) 12.45 percent over January 2012. Total Light Vehicles sales also declined by (-) 4.62 percent in January 2013 over same month last year.

- In Inovev segmentation, passenger cars integrate the above SIAM categories “Passenger cars” and “Vans”. Considering this definition of Passenger cars, a 7% sales increase sales from 2 056 391 vehicles in April-January 2012 to 2 198 419 in April-January 2013) can be observed.

- In 2013, these trends should continue.

- India is part of the BRIC region whose growth has been continuously strong over the last ten years. Indian market has doubled in the 2000-2006 period and doubled again in the 2006-2012 period. This behaviour is quite different from the American market which also displays a growth. American market grew strongly over the three last years but it was a catch up with years 2008-2009.

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

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Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Portuguese market decreased by half since 2010

- The Portuguese car market has dropped sharply since 2010. It has halved since then, but in reality it is 2.5 times less than in 2000 or 2001.

- "The market fell last year to its lowest level since 1985, with 95 290 cars registered, down 37.9% compared to 2011. This year, we still have many business closures, especially as the government did not accept our proposal to establish a new scrapping bonus“ said Pedro, Secretary General of the ACAP (Portuguese Association of Automobile Manufacturers).

- Portugal is a country in Southern Europe most affected by the recession and the drop in auto sales, as well as Greece, Spain and Italy.

- In 2012, 2500 Portuguese companies working in the automotive field (repair, distribution, production) were closed, which has resulted in the loss of 21,000 jobs, said Pedro. A full recovery cannot be expected in 2013, even though the Portuguese market grew 0.8% in January.

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

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

France and South Korea compared automotive industry

- France and South Korea are both medium size countries (65 million inhabitants in France and 49 million inhabitants in South Korea in 2011). Both have powerful automotive industries. Comparing them is therefore interesting .

- France controls two carmakers group (Renault-Nissan and PSA Peugeot-Citroën) and Korea control one carmaker group (Hyundai-Kia).
The two French groups have produced 11 million vehicles globally in 2011, and the Korean group produced 7,000,000 vehicles in the same year 2011. In 2005, the two French groups produced 10 million vehicles and the Korean 3.5 million vehicles.
Hyundai-Kia has doubled its production in seven years, while PSA remained stable and Renault-Nissan increased its production by one million vehicles(+15%).

- Production of national groups on the soil of their respective countries developed differently. Production of the Korean manufacturer increased in Korea while production of French manufacturers decreased in France. Offshoring to countries with lower labour costs, qualified staff, and with which political positioning does not cause problems, is more difficult for Koreans than for French.
However, both French and Korean carmaker groups manufacture more and more outside of their national territory, to get closer to the demanding markets (mainly China, India, USA, Russia). Korean group produced half its vehicles in Korea in 2012 (against 80% in 2005) while the two French groups manufacture 16% their vehicles in France (against 32% in 2005).

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

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Renault commits itself to produce more in France

- Renault is committed to the unions to produce more in France. The carmaker plans to rise the production in France from less than 550,000 vehicles (2012 production) to more than 700,000 vehicles in 2016, ending a decline in production in the country for a decade.

- In order to reach these figures, Renault plans to produce 80,000 vehicles more (probably Trafic, Primastar and Vivaro) at Sandouville plant , and the future Space (2014), the Scenic (2015) and the Laguna (2016) at Douai plant.

- In addition, if the success of Zoe materializes, the Flins site, which will continue to assemble the high-end range versions of the Clio IV, should significantly increase its production volume.

- The location of the future Kangoo (2015) in Maubeuge is confirmed. The location of the Master in Batilly is even confirmed for a minimum of 12 years (until 2025).

- There is no announcement of a Nissan car transfer to a Renault plant. Nissan's future compact car production (80 000 vehicles yearly) has been assigned to the Barcelona plant. There is no announcement either of a Daimler car transfer to a Renault plant. Neither a real Renault-Nissan based electric cluster is created in France The increase in production in France will therefore be the result of new model launch

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

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Renault Zoe Electric: first vehicles offered for sale

- The Renault Zoe was expected to be available for sale in September 2012. But its launch was postponed to March 2013 (a 6 month postponement). Consequently, market analysts, such Inovev, had to shift their quantities forecast by 6 months. Renault expects to sell and therefore produce 150,000 Zoes per year on cruise. The 13 700 Euros displayed price (price after deduction of bonus) is consistent with this objective. Inovev forecasts the following production quantities rise: 45,000 in 2013, 75,000 in 2014, 95,000 in 2015, 110,000 in 2016 and 125,000 in 2017.

- All models aggregated, Renault targets sales of 150,00 0electric cars in 2013 in Europe, 200,000 in 2014 and 250,000 in 2015 (maximum capacity of the manufacturer currently planned for this type of vehicle) including 150,000 Zoe, 30,000 Kangoo Z.E., 30,000 Fluence ZE and 30,000 Twizy.

- The Renault Zoe is the first B-segment model designed to be 100% electric. For now, it has no real competitor. However a C-segment model (Nissan Leaf) and a D-segment model (Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera, equipped with an engine booster) are already marketed in Europe and the rest of the world since 2011 . Both models were produced almost at 40 000 units each in 2012. Due to its price and its market positioning , and despite only one world region(Europe) on which this model is sold, Renault Zoe, however, should do better.