New Mazda 6: Rebranded model of Changan
- 詳細
New Mazda 6: Rebranded model of Changan
- The Mazda 6 is a D-segment sedan that succeeded the Mazda 626 in 2002. Three generations followed until 2024. The growing demand for SUVs pushed the Japanese carmaker to launch several vehicles of this type from 2001, but it was especially from 2012 with the launch of the Mazda CX5 that the share of SUVs in the carmaker's sales increased considerably, causing at the same time the collapse of sales of the brand's sedans, first and foremost the Mazda 6 offered in the same price range, whose distribution fell from 295,000 units in 2008 to 260,000 in 2013, 170,000 in 2016, 70,000 in 2020 and only 30,000 in 2024.
- At the same time, the total number of Mazda SUVs increased from 120,000 to 780,000 units per year.
- The Mazda 6, produced in Japan, China, and the United States for their domestic markets, collapsed in the same way everywhere. Mazda could have cancelled this model without replacing it. For 2025, however, the Japanese carmaker decided to give it one last chance. But the model completely changes its philosophy.
- The new Mazda 6 remains a sedan, but it becomes battery electric, has a hatchback and is based on a Chinese sedan, the Changan SL03 (Changan is Mazda's Chinese partner which produces its cars in China). This 4.92 m long model (therefore at the limit of the E segment) produced and sold only in China, under the name Mazda AZ-6 and in Europe under the name Mazda 6 e. In Europe, it has an 80 kWh NMC battery while in China it receives a 58 kWh LFP battery. The price of the Mazda 6 e in Europe will be around 40,000 euros (20,000 euros in China).
Inovev forecasts to produce 60,000 units of the new Citroën C5 Aircross per year
- 詳細
Inovev forecasts to produce 60,000 units of the new Citroën C5 Aircross per year
Production of Fiat Ducato and rebranded versions takes place at two sites in Europe
- 詳細
Production of Fiat Ducato and rebranded versions takes place at two sites in Europe
- The first Fiat Ducato (light utility vehicle in the N1-3 segment) was born in 1981. Following an agreement with the French group PSA Peugeot-Citroën for the creation of the joint company Sevel (Société Européenne de VéhiculesLégers), the Ducato was released in under Peugeot (Boxer) and Citroën (Jumper) versions from that time. All three models were produced at the Sevel Sud plant located in Atessa, in the Sangro Valley (Val di Sangro in Italian) at the foot of Abruzzo. The Opel version (Movano) arrived in 2021, after the acquisition of Opel by PSA. Finally, the Toyota version (ProAce Max) arrived in 2024.
- Sevel Sud - Val di Sangro plant has a production capacity of 260,000 vehicles per year. However, since the five models mentioned above sold nearly 300,000 units in 2024 (289,000 units to be exact), another production site had to be found capable of producing some of these vans. A former Opel site in Poland (Gliwice) had been nearly closed since the Opel Astra was discontinued in 2021. This is where the assembly lines for the N1-3 segment vans, which could not be assembled at the Val di Sangro site. The Gliwice site has a production capacity of 100,000 vehicles per year.
- In 2024, this plant produced 96,000 vehicles, including 24,000 Citroën Jumper, 24,000 Peugeot Boxer, 24,000 Fiat Ducato and 24,000 Opel Movano, while the Sevel Sud - Val di Sangro plant produced 193,000 vehicles, including 116,000 Fiat Ducato, 39,000 Peugeot Boxer, 38,000 Citroën Jumper. In total, this model family remains one of the most popular among light utility vehicles sold in Europe , along with the Ford Transit and Transit Custom produced in Turkey. The Fiat Ducato remains the best-selling (140,000 units in 2024), ahead of the Peugeot Boxer (63,000 units) and Citroën Jumper (62,000 units).
Gruenheide (Tesla) and Zwickau (VW) are the only BEV factories to have exceeded 200,000 vehicles in 2024
- 詳細
Gruenheide (Tesla) and Zwickau (VW) are the only BEV factories to have exceeded 200,000 vehicles in 2024
- While the market for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in Europe (30 countries) declined slightly (-1.3%) in 2024 compared to 2023, with a volume of 1,993,102 sales compared to 2,019,401 the previous year, the production volume of this type of car in Europe (30 countries) declined more sharply (-7.0%) in 2024 compared to 2023, to 1.73 million units, according to Inovev. The decline in BEV sales in 2024 therefore affected models produced in Europe more than models produced outside Europe.
- Inovev has listed the European plants producing BEVs and estimated the production volume of these BEVs in 2024.
- Tesla's Gruenheideplant produced the highest number BEVs in Europe last year, with 216,409 units, according to Inovev. This will likely no longer be the case in 2025, as Tesla sales are currently plummeting in Europe (-37% in the first quarter) and all of the brand's models are affected.
- The second largest BEV plant in Europe in 2024 is VW Zwickau (203,242 units), followed by BMW Dingolfing (176,822 units) and VW Emden (108,423 units). German plants are therefore at the forefront.
- The leading French plant is fifth, Renault Douai (89,921 units), followed by the leading Czech plant, Skoda MladaBoleslav (82,538 units). These six factories accounted for 50% of BEV production in Europe.
- It should be noted that the battery electric vehicle market grew significantly in Europe (+27.9%) in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2024, to 573,500 units compared to 448,228 a year earlier, which will boost BEV production in Europe during this period because European models produced in Europe seem to be the first beneficiaries of this growth.
The CLA will become Mercedes' entry-level model
- 詳細
The CLA will become Mercedes' entry-level model
- Mercedes has announced its product plan for 2025-2027. Facing a demand that is not achieving their objectives, the brand has decided to postpone the end of internal combustion engines by five years (from 2030 to 2035) and therefore continue to offer a range of internal combustion and electric vehicles.
- In 2025 , Mercedes will launch the CLA sedan based on the new MMA platform. The model moves from the C-segment to the D-segment due to revised dimensions, the model now exceeds 4.72 m long by 1.85 m wide and 1.47 m high. This sedan will be available in a micro-hybrid thermal version (MHEV) and in a battery electric version (BEV). It will replace the previous generation CLA but also the A-Class and B-Class discontinued in 2026. It will therefore become the new entry-level model of the brand.
- In 2026, Mercedes will launch the new generations of the GLA and GLB SUVs based on the MMA platform. The Mercedes C-Class will be facelifted and will be available in a new all-electric version. The S-Class, GLC, GLE, and GLS will also be facelifted. The GLC SUV will take advantage of this facelift to be available in a all-electric version in addition to its combustion engine version. Also in 2026, Mercedes will renew its V-Class (MPV) and Vito (van) ranges, inspired by the concept car presented at the 2025 Shanghai Motor Show.
- In 2027, the E-Class, CLE and SL will be facelifted. A new SUV will be launched, inspired by the G-Class but with more compact dimensions, somewhat reminiscent of the old Mercedes GLK marketed from 2007 to 2015.