World automotive 2018 production by country
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World automotive 2018 production by country
- While global automotive production increased by 2.3% in 2017 (compared to 2016), it fell by 1.3% in 2018 (compared to 2017) for PC+LCV and even by 2.0% for PC alone.
- Several major producing countries, such as China (-4.2%, to 27.81 million units), the United States (-1.9%, to 11.38 million units), Germany (-9.0%, to 5.54 million units), South Korea (-2.0%, to 4.03 million units) or Mexico (-1.2%, to 3.97 million units) experienced volume decline in 2018. These decreases are mainly due to lower sales but also to difficulties for some manufacturers in complying with the new WLTP standards in Europe.
- Nevertheless, some countries’ production continued to increase last year. The major producing countries where volumes increased are India (+7.1%, to 5.18 million units), Brazil (+4.6%, to 2.81 million units) and Thailand (+8.7%, to 2.16 million units). But the most significant increase was recorded by Russia (+13.2%, to 1.77 million units), which benefited from a sharp increase in its registrations accompanied by a sharp drop in its imports from abroad.
- In total, China accounts for 29% of world production, ahead of the United States (12%), Japan (10%), Germany (6%) and India (5.5%). Europe as a whole (29 countries) accounts for 19% of world production.
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The distribution of the European market by segment and body-type in 2018
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The distribution of the European market by segment and body-type in 2018
The European passenger car market remained stable in 2018 compared to 2017.
Inovev has studied the evolution of the European passenger car market since 2000, by both segment and by body-type:
-By segment :
C segment sales declined in 2018, mainly due to the underperformance of Volkswagen Golf, Opel Astra, Ford Focus, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Octavia, but this segment remains the European market leader with 37% market share in 2018 (compared to 38% in 2017). B Segment has moved closer to segment C (34% market share compared to 32% in 2017), thanks to the good performance of Renault Clio, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris. D Segment is stable at 14% of the market, ahead of segments A (9%) and E (6%). The F segment remains stable at 1% of the market.
-By body-type:
The sedan category fell to 56% of the European market in 2018 (compared to 59% in 2017). It should be recalled that this category was still at 80% of the market in 2009 and 70% in 2014. Sedans are competing with SUVs, which represent 34% of the market in 2018 (compared to 30% in 2017). MPVs are on the verge of extinction, with 6% of the market (compared to 15% in 2005), ahead of microvans (3%) and coupés/cabriolets (1%).
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Read more... The distribution of the European market by segment and body-type in 2018
Honda announced the closure of its British Swindon plant in 2021
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Honda announced the closure of its British Swindon plant in 2021
- Honda Group (Honda, Acura) announced the closure of its British Swindon plant in 2021. The manufacturer explains that vehicle electrification requires a review of its global production activities and a focus on regions where it expects high production volumes, such as Japan and China. In addition, Honda emphasizes the need to rationalize the production of the Honda Civic. This decision was not obvious as the Swindon plant had been chosen as the hub for Civic's production worldwide and had benefited from significant investments in 2015. According to Inovev, in addition to the factors stated by the manufacturer, others must be considered:
1. The European market has become a second-class market for Honda (the manufacturer occupies only 1% of this market and Europe represents only 3% of its worldwide sales), which makes the presence of assembly plants in Europe questionable.
2. The uncertainties of the last two years regarding the Brexit may also have played an important part in Honda's decision. Especially since this uncertainty is likely to continue.
- The Swindon plant, which was established in 1985, has a capacity of 250,000 units per year, which means that it currently operates at less than 65% of its capacity.
- This plant now only manufactures the Civic sedan, since CRV and Jazz have not been produced there for several months. In 2018, 137,000 Civic units were produced in this plant, of which nearly 40,000 were sold in Europe and 97,000 were exported to other regions of the world (including 54,000 units to the United States).
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Read more... Honda announced the closure of its British Swindon plant in 2021
The new Opel Movano, (currently built on a Renault base) will be built on a PSA platform
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The new Opel Movano, (currently built on a Renault base) will be built on a PSA platform
- The PSA group, which has owned the former European subsidiaries of the GM group, Opel-Vauxhall, since 2017, is gradually replacing all the commercial vehicles of these two sister brands with Peugeot-Citroën-based models.
- The Opel Combo (category N1-1) was the first to be replaced. Previously using the Fiat Doblo’s, bodywork, platform and engines , it has now been based on the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo since 2018.
- The Opel Vivaro (category N1-2) was the second to be replaced. Previously using the Renault Trafic’s bodywork, platform and engines , it has now been based on the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy since 2019.
- The Opel Movano (category N1-3), currently based on the Renault Master, will therefore be replaced in 2020 by a model derived from the Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper, themselves derived from the Fiat Ducato.
- The Opel Combo has been manufactured since 2018 at the PSA site in Vigo (Spain), alongside the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo. The Opel Vivaro has been manufactured since 2019 at PSA's Luton site in England. The future Opel Movano will be manufactured as of 2020 at the Fiat site in Val di Sangro (Italy), alongside the Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper.
- The production of the Opel Movano has varied considerably since 2005. However, since 2015, volumes have fluctuated between 20,000 and 25,000 units per year. Inovev forecasts 25,000 units per year of the future Opel Movano.
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Honda announced the closure of its Turkish plant in Gebze in 2021
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Honda announced the closure of its Turkish plant in Gebze in 2021
- The restructuring of the Honda group in Europe will not only affect its British plant in Swindon but also its Turkish plant in Gebze. Honda has just announced the permanent closure of this plant in 2021, at the same time as the closure of its Swindon plant.
- The Gebze plant, opened in 1992, traditionally produced Honda brand models for the local market, such as City sedans. But in 2017, this plant started manufacturing the new Civic, in its Sedan version (4-door sedan) while the Swindon plant produced the new Civic in its Hatchback version (5-door sedan). The Gebze plant then began to export part of its production to Europe, following the manufacturer's new organisation, which had just defined the new allocation for each of its two plants located in Europe. These plants were therefore supposed to focus on producing the Honda Civic, in its two forms, the 4-door sedan and the 5-door sedan. From the moment when the uncertainties associated with Brexit no longer allowed the Swindon plant to continue its normal activity, it was obvious that the Gebze plant was also directly threatened, especially since at the same time, the manufacturer planned to repatriate the Civic's production to Japan. After the closure of Swindon and Gebze, Honda will no longer have assembly plants on the European continent.
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Read more... Honda announced the closure of its Turkish plant in Gebze in 2021
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