Category Blog

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Production

The compact MPV decline – the SUV rise

-The European market of compact MPV (segment B and C multi-Purpose Vans such as Renault Modus or Volkswagen Touran) decreased significantly over last years. Market fell from 1.5 million vehicles in 2006 down to less than 1 million vehicles in 2012. MPV’s customers transferred their purchases to compact SUVs (segment B or C four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles or two-wheel drive (2WD) vehicles looking alike four-wheel drive) vehicles. The compact SUV market has grown from 0.6 million units in 2006 to more than 1.6 million in 2012. Renault and Citroën launched their restyled Scénic compact MPV and C4 Picasso within this context, hoping to give the compact MPV market a new life.

-The production of compact MPV declined from 1.2 million units in 2006 down to less than 900,000 in 2012,while the production of compact SUVs grew in the same period from 250,000 vehicles to nearly 2 million vehicles.
The share of Renault Scenic and Citroen C4 Picasso (leaders of the compact MPV segment) decreased significantly while Nissan Juke Qashqai and VW Tiguan (market leaders compact SUV) increased their production significantly. Twice more compact SUV than compact MPV are produced in Europe presently.

Data source: File #105 - European Production data detailed by make and model from 2005 to 2012

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

All carmakers affected by the decline of compact (B and C segment) MPVs

Data source: File #105 - European Production data detailed by make and model from 2005 to 2012

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Ford unveils the new F-series pick-up

- The Ford F-Series pick-up has been the 80's best-selling model in the United States. This model has induced the popularity of full-size pick up on the market. A new model will be will launched shortly to compete with its rival Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra which has just arrived on the market.

- The successor to the current generation will carry on the main features of this impressive Atlas concept presented in Detroit.
With the rise of energy price and the ambient search for a more friendly environment in USA, American customers should have been expected to buy less heavy and greedy vehicles, but no.

- The Atlas Concept is little surprise ford Ford’s customers: huge grille, impressive ground clearance, and double-cab. Only the futuristic optical and crystal taillights distinguish really the concept car from a production model.

- Under the hood, Ford announced a new generation of EcoBoost engines combined with a Stop & Start system aimed at reducing consumption. Other new features are also noticeable: the ground clearance adjustable automatically, the extern al camera enabling a 360 ° view and a new cargo box for easy loading.

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

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

Fiat will concentrate the new 500 production in Poland in 2015

- Fiat will produce the next generation of the 500, scheduled for 2015, solely in its Polish factory Tichy. The production of the model at Chrysler Toluca plant (Mexico) will be stopped. Models currently produced in Mexico are dedicated to the North American market.

- The gathered production of 500 at Tichy will allow Fiat to take advantage of a better utilization rate of its Polish plant, which recently lost the manufacture of Panda in favour of the Italian factory Pomigliano d'Arco and which has suffered from weak demand in Europe for several years.

- This reorganization will also release capacity on the site of Toluca Mexico for future models of Chrysler. This site currently manufactures Dodge Journey and Ram pickup and the Fiat Freemont is the European version of Dodge Journey in addition to Fiat 500.

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

Details: Published: 06 September 2022

The Chinese market continues its growth with a new high in January

- According to the CAAM data (CAAM: China Association of Automobile Manufacturers), the light vehicle sales in China rose to 2,039,000 units in January 2013: + 46.7% in January 2013 compared to January 2012, + 13 % compared to January 2011 and + 18,3 % compared to December 2012. Sales of passenger cars (including mini-buses) accounted for 1.73 million units (+ 49% versus January 2012). Sales of commercial vehicles accounted for 309,000 units (+34.8% versus January 2012).

- The comparison of January 2013 with January 2012 is to be conducted with caution. January 2012 production was low for a January month (January is usually the highest month in the year) due to the stop of governmental incentives (-26.6 % in January 2012 compared with January 2011, -24.4 % for passenger cars and -37,3% for the utility vehicles.)

- In January 2013, the independent Chinese brands rose by 53% to 747,000 cars and therefore have increased their market share to 43%. Other manufacturers ‘market share(JV’s market share) declined down to 57% The German JVs occupied 19% of the market, the Japanese JVs (including Nissan)13%, the U.S. JVs 12%, the Korean JVs 10%, and the French JVs (excluding Nissan): 3 %.