Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC sales remain below expectations
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Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC sales remain below expectations
- It is difficult to say that the battery electric vehicles (BEV) from Audi and Mercedes, named E-Tron and EQC respectively, have a tremendous start, as the first will not exceed the 20 000 sales in 2019 in the world (while the Audi's target was 45,000 units a year) and the second will hardly reach 2,000 units in 2019, while Mercedes' objective was much higher.
- It is true that the Audi E-Tron has not yet started to be marketed in China (first market of the 100% electric vehicles), and that the Mercedes EQC did not start neither in China nor on USA. In addition, these two models does not provide added values regarding Tesla models, in terms of battery range, and in terms of the technological content proposed.
- These two models are rather in the category of high-end, even if it is segment D SUV, with prices started at 85 000 euros for the Audi E-Tron and 80,000 euros for the Mercedes EQC, while a Renault is charging 35,000 euros for Zoé (B segment) and Volkswagen 40,000 euros for an ID3 (D segment). A Tesla Model 3 is priced between 50,000 and 70,000 euros depending on the version. Only the Tesla Model S and Model X are even more expensive: between 82,500 and 100,000 euros for the first and between 90,000 and 107,500 euros for the second, but they are considered as models from the F segment.
- The BEV model similar to the E-Tron and EQC in terms of price is the Jaguar I-Pace SUV (80,000 euros), which will be produced at 15,000 units in 2019, marketed before the Audi and Mercedes but with a much smaller number of dealers.
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Hyundai confirms the production of its pickup in the USA in 2021
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Hyundai confirms the production of its pickup in the USA in 2021
- The Korean carmaker Hyundai has confirmed the upcoming production of its first mid-size pickup, the Santa Cruz, which had been displayed as a prototype almost five years ago, at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2015. The Korean carmaker has taken the time to finalise its model and study the evolution of the mid-size pickup truck market in North America.
- In 2014, this market reached 400,000 units, while it is expected to reach 800,000 units in 2019. This market has doubled in five years, which is attracting the interest of many carmakers and decided Hyundai to launch its first model.
- The Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup will be put into production in 2021 at the carmaker’s American plant in Montgomery (Alabama), alongside the Santa Fe SUV and the Sonata and Elantra sedans already produced on this factory.
- The new model will be equipped with a 2 litres capacity diesel engines, developing 190ch, and of an four wheels transmission. The carmaker does not envisage electrified versions for the moment.
- The Santa Cruz will be exclusively marketed in North America, where the pickup market remains relatively important (18% of the market in the US including 3% for the mid-range pickup category).
- Its competitors will be the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline. Hyundai has to first of all have construct a brand image in the pickup market, because it is a totally new market. Volkswagen has also announced plans to launch a mid-range pickup in 2021.
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Inovev plans 20,000 units a year for the new Volvo XC40 electric
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Inovev plans 20,000 units a year for the new Volvo XC40 electric
- A few weeks after introducing the plug-in hybrid version of its XC40 compact SUV (C-segment), the Swedish firm Volvo (owned by Chinese Geely) has unveiled the 100% electric version, called XC40 Recharge (curious name because the Plug-In version recharges too).
- The XC40 Recharge thus becomes the first mass-produced vehicle of the brand to be marketed with an electric motor (the old electric C30 has only known a confidential broadcast). It is also the first model to be available in both the thermal version, the hybrid version and the electric version.
- The Swedish manufacturer has indicated that in 2025 its global sales should be provided 50% by 100% electric vehicles and 50% by plug-in hybrid vehicles.
- The electric version of the XC40 is recognizable by its closed grille. This model was developed on the modular platform of the Polestar 2, 100% electric sedan belonging to the Geely group.
- It announces a power of 408ch spread over 4 driving wheels, allowing a range of 400km according to the WLTP cycle. That's twice the autonomy of the new Mazda MX30 SUV, which is its direct competitor.
- The XC40 Refill should be manufactured at the Belgian site in Ghent, at a rate of 20,000 units per year according to Inovev.
- But it should also be made in China, for the needs of the local market.
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Inovev expects 50,000 units per year from the new Volkswagen Atlas coupe SUV
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Inovev expects 50,000 units per year from the new Volkswagen Atlas coupe SUV
- Volkswagen launched the Atlas SUV in 2017, exclusively for the US market. It was at the time to complete the SUV range of the builder, a category in strong growth in the US market, since today SUVs represent half of sales. The Atlas is at the top of the Volkswagen SUV range, above the Tiguan and Touareg. This is the largest vehicle produced on the MQB platform of the Volkswagen Group. Its length reaches 5.04m, its width 1.97m and its height 1.77m. It is produced at the Chattanooga (Tennessee) site in the United States. As of 2018, the Atlas is marketed under the name of Volkswagen Teramont in the Middle East, China, Mexico and Russia.
- Volkswagen added in October 2019 a four-door coupe called Atlas Cross Sport. This new model is 7cm shorter and 6cm lower than the Atlas. However, it retains the same width and the same wheelbase.
- The engines are identical, namely a gasoline 2.0 turbocharged 2.0 cylinder engine developing 235hp and a V6 gasoline 3.6 developing 276ch. The production will be carried out, like the Atlas, on the American site of Chattanooga.
- The new model intends to compete with the Mercedes GLE coupe, BMW X6 and Audi Q8 for a significantly lower price.
- It also takes the place of the Touareg in the US market, because this model has just been removed in this market.
- The Atlas Cross Sport could total 50,000 sales per year, without cannibalizing sales of the standard Atlas which is aimed at a more family-oriented clientele. Teramont could eventually benefit from a similar version.
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Inovev Expects 10,000 Units Per Year From New Mazda MX30 SUV
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Inovev Expects 10,000 Units Per Year From New Mazda MX30 SUV
- Mazda presented its first 100% electric model as standard at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show. This is a compact SUV (C-segment) called MX30, to harmonize this name with that of the recent CX30 compact engine SUV.
- It is therefore very likely that the future range of Mazda SUVs will be called CX30, CX40, CX50 for the SUV with the engine and MX30, MX40, MX50 for the SUV with electric motor. The CX3 and CX5 are indeed at the end of their career, just like the MX5 roadster, and these old appellations will be abandoned within two to three years.
- The commercialization of the MX30 in 2020 may be surprising since Mazda has always claimed that the engine still has room for improvement and that the electric motor is not really needed at the moment.
- Geely's decision to launch a 100% electric Volvo XC40 has no doubt convinced Mazda to evolve on this point.
- The new Mazda MX30 is as long as the CX30 (4.39m) but its style refers to the SUV coupe, with a very sloping rear part, like the Renault Arkana, Mercedes GLC coupe, Audi Q3 Sportback, BMW X4 or Porsche Cayenne coupe. Its width is 1.79m (against 1.80m for the CX30) and its height of 1.57m (against 1.54m for the CX30). Mazda says the MX30's range will be around 200 kilometers on the WLTP cycle, which seems a little weak compared to the competition.
- Note that the Mazda MX30 takes the technique of opening the doors of the old coupe RX8 rotary engine.
- Inovev expects a sales volume of 10,000 Mazda MX30s per year worldwide.
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