Dongfeng assigns a previously PSA dedicated plant to Nissan
The Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng has created joint ventures in China with the Citroën, Peugeot, Nissan, Renault, Honda and Kia brands.

Because production capacity for Nissan has become insufficient and PSA's capacities are largely underutilized, Dongfeng decided to assign one of its factories that manufactured PSA group cars to Nissan Group. This plant has a production capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year.

Dongfeng-Nissan produced 1.3 million vehicles in China in 2017 for a production capacity of 1.2 million units, while Dongfeng-PSA produced less than 400,000 vehicles in China last year, despite a total of production capacity of 1 million units.

After this transfer Nissan will have a production capacity of 1.5 million units per year and PSA a production capacity of 700,000 units per year, not counting the Shenzhen plant that assembles DS models and which depends on another joint venture, the one with Changan. This plant has a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles per year.

Dongfeng manufactured a total of 3.6 million vehicles in 2017, including all its joint ventures and independent brands, with an estimated production capacity of 4 million vehicles per year. It is the second largest Chinese assembler behind SAIC (6.6 million), but ahead of FAW (3 million), Changan (2.3 million) and BAIC (2.1 million).


18-18-6   
    
 

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Inovev anticipates 200,000 annual sales of the new Chevrolet Blazer
General Motors, which wants to strengthen its position in the fast growing US SUV segment, unveiled its new Chevrolet Blazer. This model takes the name of a very popular model that was marketed between 1969 and 2005. Ford and Jeep are also preparing SUVs to be launched under old names (Bronco and Wagoneer).

The new Chevrolet Blazer fits into the Chevrolet lineup between the Equinox and the Traverse, and will be commercialized starting in 2019. The new model, which competes with the Ford Edge, Nissan Rogue, and Hyundai Santa Fe is based on the platform called C1XX also used on Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia. An extended wheelbase variant of this platform is used on the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.

The new Blazer will be produced at the GM plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, which also produces the Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet Cruze.

The engines of the new Chevrolet Blazer are as follows: a 193hp 4-cylinder petrol engine and a 305hp 3.6 petrol V6, paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox.

Inovev anticipates 200,000 annual sales of the new Chevrolet Blazer, although this model will not be marketed in Europe, since the Chevrolet brand has pulled from sale on the European continent.


18-18-4   
    
 

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Changan starts construction of its Nanjing plant
Chinese automaker Changan has started construction of its Nanjing plant, which will specialize in electrified vehicles (HEV, PHEV, BEV) from its first SOP in June 2020. The plant will be able to produce up to 240,000 electrified vehicles per year. Changan plans to assemble SUVs, the most popular category in China, but also high performance sedans and coupes. In addition to the assembly lines, the site will also include a research and development center dedicated to electrified vehicles.

The Nanjing project is part of Changan's "Shanghri-La Mission" strategy, which aims to build three factories for electrified vehicles and halt the sale of thermal engine models starting in 2025.

Changan is currently the second largest independent Chinese car manufacturer in terms of sales and production, behind Geely which became the first Chinese automaker in 2016. Changan delivered 1,315,000 vehicles in 2017, of which only 61,000 electric (BEV) cars  and hybrid rechargeable (PHEV) cars. It must accelerate its production of electrified models to meet the quotas that China will impose on automotive manufacturers in  2019. Next year, Changan is expected to sell 150,000 electrified vehicles and more in the following years. By 2025, Changan's goal is to offer 21 electric models and 12 rechargeable hybrids, for a complete line up of 33 different electrified models.


18-18-3   
    
 

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Ford could eventually leave Europe
Inovev has been saying for several years that the Ford group could eventually disengage from the European market, like their compatriots Chrysler (in 1978) and General Motors (in 2017).

Like GM, Ford's market share has steadily declined over the last twenty years (6.7% in 2018 compared to 11.5% in 1995) and the manufacturer is constantly reducing size by successively closing  down a number of its European plants (Dagenham in 2002, Southampton in 2011, Genk in 2014) and selling brands such as Volvo, Jaguar or Land Rover. In addition, Ford ended its partnership with Fiat on the Ka and reduced its cooperation with PSA on diesel engines. Finally, in 2018 Ford became the smallest of the general manufacturers in Europe.

In Europe, Ford produces mainly in Germany, a country with high labor costs, and moreover produces low margin B and C segment cars, unlike the more profitable large pickups and large SUVs that it produces in the United States.

One would have thought that the PSA group would eventually get their hands on Ford Europe, as it did for Chrysler Europe and GM Europe. In fact, the Volkswagen group, which would have been directly threatened in Europe by such a merger, has just signed a draft agreement with Ford, with fairly vague boundaries, but which could eventually herald the takeover of Ford of Europe by the Volkswagen Group.


18-18-2   
    
 

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Inovev expects 125,000 annual sales for the new Audi A1
Audi (a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group) has unveiled the next generation of its B segment sedan, the A1, whose origins date back to 2010. More than 900,000 Audi A1s have been manufactured since that date.

The new Audi A1 is based on the MQB-A platform already used by the recent Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza and Seat Arona. It does not rely on the platform MQB-B that uses the Audi Q2 and the Volkswagen T-Roc. The new Audi A1 is a little longer (4.03m), a little wider (1.74m) and a little bit lower (1.41m) than the old A1.

Notably, the new Audi A1 will no longer be manufactured on the Belgian site of Forest, but on the Spanish site of Martorell, alongside the Seat ... and Audi Q3 whose production should however stop this autumn, at the time of the presentation of the new generation of Q3 (which will be manufactured on the Hungarian site of Gyor).

The production transfer from the Audi A1 from Forest to Martorell will be offset by the arrival of the Audi Q6 electric in 2019. Other Audi electric models are expected to be produced on the Belgian site in the years 2020-2022.

The engines of the new Audi A1 are: no diesel but 1.0 TFSI (3-cylinder) petrol engines of 95hp and 115hp, 1.5 TFSI (4 cylinders) of 148hp and 2.0 TFSI (4 cylinders) of 197hp. Note that the 3-door version will not be renewed. Inovev expects 125,000 annual sales of the new Audi A1.


18-17-9   
    
 

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