Audi will stop production in Brussels at the end of February 2025
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Audi will stop production in Brussels at the end of February 2025
- The Audi assembly plant in Brussels Forest (Belgium), which is a former Volkswagen factory, is one of the only two survivors (along with the Volvo assembly plant in Ghent) of the formerly flourishing Belgian automobile industry. At the end of the 20th century, Belgium had a Ford factory, an Opel factory, a Renault factory, a Volkswagen factory and other small factories. The Volkswagen Brussels Forest factory produced Volkswagen Lupo, Polo and Golf until 2009, then it produced Audi A1 and A3 until 2018, then finally Audi E-Tron from 2019, renamed Q8 E- Tron in 2022.
- These expensive vehicles did not predispose to a high production volume. This is why the production volume of the Brussels Forest factory did not exceed 51,546 units in 2022, compared to 131,226 in 2012 and 204,402 in 2005. The drop in sales of electric vehicles in Germany (-28,6% over the first 9 months of 2024) due to the end of subsidies handicapped the distribution of the Audi Q8 E-Tron whose sales fell by 36.5% in 2024 (Germany being its first market in 2023 and second in 2024, behind the USA).
- What was a possible hypothesis has therefore become a reality. Audi has just confirmed that it will end production of its Q8 E-Tron model at the Brussels Forest site, effective February 28, 2025.
- Production of this vehicle will be transferred to the Mexican plant in San Jose Chiapa where the Audi Q5 is already assembled for the whole world. This decision implies the permanent closure of the Brussels Forest factory, unless another carmaker wishes to set up there or even another company belonging to a completely different sector.
Germany has regained its position as Europe's leading BEV market
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Germany has regained its position as Europe's leading BEV market
- Even if Germany had fallen behind the United Kingdom in the European market for battery electric vehicles in the first quarter of 2024 (following the end of subsidies granted by the German government on the purchase of battery electric vehicles), this country regained its leading position over the first 9 months of 2024, with 276,390 units (down 28.6% compared to the first 9 months of 2023) ahead of the United Kingdom (269,931 units, +13.2 %) and France (216,841 units, +6%).
- However, BEVs represent only 13% of the German market in the first 9 months of 2024, compared to 18% in the first 9 months of 2023, while in the United Kingdom they now represent 18% of the market and 17% In France.
- All European countries combined, BEVs represent 14.7% of the European market over the first 9 months of 2024, compared to 15.2% over the first 9 months of 2023, with a volume of 1,433,225 units compared to 1,472,190 units respectively.
- In terms of market share, Germany, the United Kingdom and France, the three countries which buy the most of BEVs in Europe, remain in the middle of the pack, far behind the Scandinavian countries, first and foremost Norway (88% of market share) followed by Denmark (48%), Sweden (34%) and Finland (28%).
- We also note the good performance of the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) with BEV market shares of 27% to 32% depending on the country. Finally, Switzerland (19%) and Portugal (18%) do better than the United Kingdom or France. The countries located in Eastern Europe and Southern Europe remain the least favored (less than 7.5% BEV in these markets).
Which carmakers are making progress in Europe over 9 months 2024?
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Which carmakers are making progress in Europe over 9 months 2024?
- On an European passenger cars market (31 countries) increasing by 1% over the first 9 months of 2024, which carmakers saw their sales increase sharply and those who saw their sales decline sharply?
- Already in terms of volumes, the Volkswagen group with its eight brands remains the European market leader, occupying 26% market share in 2024 (stable compared to 2023), ahead of the Stellantis group with its eleven brands (Chrysler, Dodge and Ram are not officially marketed in Europe), which occupies 16% market share in 2024 (compared to 17% in 2023).
- Behind, the Renault group (9.6% market share, stable) is ahead of the Hyundai group (8.4% market share compared to 8.8% in 2023), the Toyota group (7.7% market share compared to 6.9% in 2023), the BMW group (6.9% market share, stable) and the Mercedes group (5.2% market share, stable).
- The carmakers making the higgest progress in 2024 are Volvo (+37%), thanks to the success of the compact EX30 electric model imported from China and Honda (+35%) thanks to the simultaneous launch of three compact SUVs. Suzuki (+16.7%) thanks to its inexpensive models, Nissan (+14.4%) thanks to the strong increase in sales of Mitsubishi, Toyota (+12.3%) thanks to the success of its Yaris and Yaris Cross hybrids. We note the good performance of SAIC-MG (+10.4%) despite the various obstacles placed in front of Chinese carmakers.
- The carmakers which will decline the most in 2024 are Ford (-17.9%), which is voluntarily abandoning the European market, Tesla (-8.7%) whose models are less attractive to the public and Stellantis (-6%) which is going through a difficult and transitional period between end of life of old models and gradual start-up of new models.
Towards a recovery of the European BEV market?
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Towards a recovery of the European BEV market?
- Is the European BEV automotive market recovering? While the European market (31 countries) for battery electric vehicles (BEV) grew by 3.5% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023, then by 1.6% in the first half of 2024 compared to first half of 2023, it fell by 2.6% over the entire first 9 months of 2024 compared to the first 9 months of 2023. But in September 2024, it increases by 13.9%.
- This means that the evolution of BEV sales over the first 9 months of 2024 is generally negative compared to 2023, the BEV market share having fallen to 14.7% in Europe at the end of September 2024 compared to 15.2 % at the end of September 2023. But the increase observed in September suggests a recovery over the next three months of the year.
- We are therefore not witnessing a collapse in BEV sales in Europe, but a stagnation or even a decline in sales in certain countries such as Germany (-28.6%), Sweden (-18.9%), Finland (-31.4%) or Switzerland (-9.5%). The new battery electric models at a lower prices than today may help to support the European electric market.
- As for other engines, gasoline continues to lose ground in Europe (34% of the market against 37% in 2023 and 38% in 2022), like diesel (11% of the market against 12% in 2023 and 15 % in 2022). The plug-in hybrid remains stable at 7% of the market. The full- hybrid (or FHEV) continues its spectacular growth (14% of the market compared to 10% in 2023 and 8% in 2022). The micro-hybrid (MHEV) is growing at 17% of the market and remains the second technology in terms of engine behind gasoline engines which are twice as large in terms of market share.
The European passenger car market grows by 1% over 9 months 2024
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The European passenger car market grows by 1% over 9 months 2024
- The European automobile market for passenger cars (31 countries) fell by 4.2% in September 2024 compared to September 2023, to 1,118,083 units against 1,167,637, after having fallen by 16.5% in August 2024 and stagnated at +0.4% in July 2024. As a result, the market only increases by 1% over the first 9 months of 2024, to 9,779,605 units compared to 9,685,850 over the first 9 months of 2023, the first half of 2024 having been largely positive (+4.4%).
- The European countries which see their sales increase in 2024 (over 9 months) are Poland (+13.8%), Bulgaria (+18.4%), Croatia (+12%), Hungary (+7.3%), Romania (+4.3%), the United Kingdom (+4.3%), the Czech Republic (+2.6%), Slovenia (+6.8%), Spain (+4.7%) and Cyprus (+6.2%). Thus, we observe that the countries which have seen their sales increase are overwhelmingly those located in Eastern Europe (apart from Spain), that is to say those which buy very few electric vehicles (including Spain). One exception: the United Kingdom, which is one of the largest buyers of BEVs and whose overall market is growing by 4.3%.
- The European countries which are seeing their sales decline sharply in 2024 (over 9 months) are Finland (-19.1%), Sweden (-7.9%) and Norway (-3.9%) which are among the countries with the greatest demand for electric vehicles. Note that Germany saw its sales fall by 1% and France by 1.8%, these countries being among the largest buyers of electric vehicles in volume.
- It seems that countries purchasing electric vehicles are affected by the drop in demand for BEVs and that those which purchase very few BEVs are on the opposing very little affected.
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