The new European models planned for 2023
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The new European models planned for 2023
- After several months of absence of European novelties (new cars produced in Europe), carmakers should resume a normal rhythm of new model launches from spring 2023.
- Inovev counts around twenty new models that should be launched this year:
§ BMW: new 5 Series, new Mini, new Countryman.
§ Mercedes: new E-Class.
§ Ford: new battery electric SUV based on MEB platform from VW.
§ Hyundai: new battery electric Kona.
§ Citroën: new C3 and new C4 Aircross.
§ Peugeot: new 3008.
§ Mitsubishi: new Colt based on the Renault Clio.
§ Renault: new battery electric Scénic, new Espace derived from Austral.
§ Toyota: new CHR.
§ Audi: new A4.
§ Cupra: new Tavascan, new Terramar.
§ Porsche: new battery electric Macan.
§ Volkswagen: new Tiguan, new battery electric ID7, new Passat station wagon.
European plants operated at 58% capacity in 2022
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European plants operated at 58% capacity in 2022
- European car plants (including Turkey) operated at 58% of their capacity (compared to 59% in 2021, 62% in 2020, 81% in 2019, 83% in 2018 and 85% in 2017). These production capacities are estimated by Inovev at 23.15 million vehicles per year (excluding trucks) while production in Europe (European Union + UK + Turkey) did not exceed 13.4 million units, compared to 13.8 million in 2021, 14.5 million in 2020 and 18.9 million in 2019.
- The utilization rate of European plants therefore continued to plunge last year, due firstly to a production volume which has failed to recover since the health crisis of 2020 and secondly to a refusal by carmakers to close some of their plants largely underemployed.
- They are counting on a recovery in production over the next few years, thanks to a revival of sales in Europe and for export, but this should not be spectacular according to the forecasts of Inovev, which foresees a low growth.
- Sometimes, carmakers count on the arrival of new models on a particular production site. For example, Renault is maintaining its production capacities in Douai despite a very low production volume in 2022 (Talisman, Espace, Scénic models at the end of their life), because the carmaker plans to produce its electric range there, which is currently being developed ( R4, R5, Megane, Scenic, Micra).
- According to Inovev, it is however possible that in the long term, some carmakers will have no other choice but to close some of their plants.
Suzuki Group sold 2.97 million vehicles in 2022
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Suzuki Group sold 2.97 million vehicles in 2022
- The Japanese group Suzuki sold 2.97 million vehicles worldwide in 2022, which places it in 9th position behind Honda and Ford. Specializing in small cars (A and B segments), Suzuki is mainly present in Asia, a market which represents 88% of its worldwide sales spread over three zones: India (57% of its worldwide sales) where it remains the market leader, Japan (21% of its worldwide sales) where it represents a significant share of the Key-car market and the ASEAN countries (10% of its worldwide sales).
- The vehicles sold on these markets are almost exclusively internal combustion engines. As a result, Suzuki has become ultra-marginal in China, a country for which its range of small thermal cars no longer fits to market demand: market of C and D segments, for all engines and electric cars of all segments, two specificities where Suzuki is not.
- As explained above, markets where Suzuki is positioned have not encouraged it to produce electric vehicles. But today, Suzuki has to be in partnership with Toyota to supply it with hybrid engines (HEV) while waiting in the future for electric motors (BEV). It is likely that India and Japan demand for BEVs will increase in the future, so we can expect Suzuki to change its strategy to offer more such vehicles.
- Europe, which seems to be fully committed to electric vehicles, now represents only 5% of Suzuki's worldwide sales, i.e. a very low market share which could ultimately decide Suzuki to withdraw from this market, especially when Chinese carmakers arrive in Europe with models sold at the same price as the Suzuki but with superior performances.
Tesla became the first Premium brand in the USA in 2022
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Tesla became the first Premium brand in the USA in 2022
- The Californian carmaker Tesla has gradually succeeded in becoming not only the leader of the US market for battery electric cars but also the leader of the US market for Premium cars. Tesla sold 484,351 electric vehicles in the USA in 2022, well ahead in this market of Ford (56,464 sales), Chevrolet (36,245 sales), Kia (28,506 sales), Hyundai (26,826 sales) and Volkswagen (19,665 sales). Tesla grabs two-thirds of the US BEV market in 2022, but it held more than 70% in 2021, as the offer has expanded in 2022 in the BEV category among all carmakers.
- Among the Premium carmakers and all motorisations included, Tesla (484,351 sales) is ahead of BMW (327,929 sales) for the first time. Mercedes (269,511 sales), Lexus (260,668 sales), Audi (184,279 sales) and Cadillac (133,521 sales) follow. Tesla therefore sells 3.5 times more than Cadillac. Tesla has 22% of the US market for Premium brands in 2022, compared to 20% in 2021, thanks to a 42% increase in sales in 2022 compared to 2021, due to the ramp-up of the Model Y.
- By model within the US BEV market, the Tesla Model Y (228,312 sales) and Model 3 (196,503 sales) largely dominate their competitors. In third place, the Ford Mustang Mach E did no better than 38,469 sales. It is closely followed by the Tesla Model X (33,081 sales) and Model S (26,455 sales). The Chevrolet Bolt (25,743 sales), Hyundai Ioniq 5 (22,560 sales), Kia EV6 (20,072 sales), Volkswagen ID4 (19,665 sales) and Rivian R1T (13,148 sales) follow. The Ford F-Series Lightning was sold at just 12,804 units last year, putting it in eleventh place among the best-selling electric models.
The Mercedes-Benz Group sold 2.48 million vehicles in 2022
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The Mercedes-Benz Group sold 2.48 million vehicles in 2022
- The Mercedes-Benz group, now separated from its truck and bus branch (entity that has become independent and renamed Daimler Trucks) sold 2.48 million light vehicles in 2022, including 2,043,900 Mercedes passenger cars (-1% compared to compared to 2021), 411,000 Mercedes light utility vehicles (+4% compared to 2021) and 21,000 Smart (-45%). Note that since 2023, electric Smarts have been produced in China by a J.V. with Geely and no longer in France by Mercedes.
- In 2022, the Mercedes-Benz group overpassed its competitor the BMW group (2.4 million vehicles sold) and is in 10th place among global carmakers, just behind Suzuki. However, the Mercedes brand sold fewer Premium cars than the BMW brand last year, 2,043,900 units compared to 2,100,692 units, but more than the Audi brand (1,614,231 units).
- Mercedes-Benz Group BEV sales reached 139,000 units in 2022 (including 118,000 Mercedes and 21,000 Smart) while PHEV sales reached 180,000 units. That is a total of 319,000 plug-in vehicles, representing 13% of the total sales of the Mercedes-Benz group, including 6% of BEV and 7% of PHEV.
- The group's best-selling model in 2022 is an SUV, with the GLC (D segment), sold at 343,000 units worldwide. This model is available today in thermal version and in PHEV version, but not in BEV version.
- China remains the leading market for the Mercedes-Benz group (752,000 sales in 2022), ahead of Europe (656,000 sales) and the United States (351,000 sales). These three markets account for 85% of Mercedes-Benz Group's passenger car sales.
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