Honda to end vehicle production in Swindon in July 2021
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Honda to end vehicle production in Swindon in July 2021
- Japanese carmaker Honda, the sixth-largest carmaker in the world behind GM and Hyundai-Kia, with 4.34 million vehicles sold in 2020, has seen its influence diminish considerably in Europe over the years. From 335,000 sales in 2007, volumes fell to 150,000 units in 2011 and then 80,000 in 2020. This significant and inexorable drop in Honda sales can be attributed on one hand to a limited range of models on the European market, often not very competitive. However another fact has played a role in this situation: the growing disinterest of the Japanese carmaker for the European market, while its sales increased in China and the United States, and remained at a good level in its origin market, Japan.
- Honda had the Swindon plant in Great Britain as early as the 1980s, following a request by the government to open up to Japanese carmakers in order to offset the agony of the British Leyland group, at this time the largest British carmaker. Honda opened another plant in 1997, in Turkey (Gebze) in order to complete its industrial tool in this region.
- A large part of the Honda sold in Europe came from these two plants, but since the end of production of the Jazz (in 2015) and the CRV (in 2018), only the Civic remained and this could not guarantee the sustainability of the two European production plants.
- Honda had indeed announced last year that it would completely withdraw from Europe before the end of 2021. Today, the carmaker confirmed that the Swindon plant will close in July 2021, and the Gebze plant few months later. Honda said the Swindon plant had been bought by a logistician company named Panattoni.
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続きを読む... Honda to end vehicle production in Swindon in July 2021
Production of PHEVs and BEVs (NEVs) in China may surpass 1.5 million units in 2021
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Production of PHEVs and BEVs (NEVs) in China may surpass 1.5 million units in 2021
- In 2019, the production in China of passenger vehicles locally named as "New Energy Vehicles" (or New Energy Vehicles - NEVs, and which include PHEVs and BEVs) fell for the first time below the level of the previous year due to reduction of subsidies. In 2020, in the first semester, the production fell sharply, down 39% year-over-year due to the impact of the coronavirus. However, from July, the production exceeded the level of the previous year at the same time to end the year up 16% compared to 2020.
- The Chinese government launched a series of policies in 2020 to continue supporting the development of the NEV market. In April, the central government decided to extend until 2022 the subsidy policy for NEVs (which was initially due to be stopped in 2020) in order to offset the effects of the coronavirus. In June, a revised version of the CAFC (Corporate Average Fuel Consumption) and NEV credit policy was announced. It sets the share of NEV credits from 2021 to 2023 at 14%, 16% and 18% respectively, and tightens the conditions for acquiring NEV credits. These NEV credits result from a complex calculation but are intended to increase the share of PHEVs and BEVs among carmakers.
- These last decisions should allow an increase in the production volume. As carmakers are required to comply with the new conditions specified by the policy, the impact on the NEVs market is expected to be significant. Consequently, the NEVs market (for passenger cars) could exceed 1.5 million units in 2021.
- Finally, in November 2020, the “NEV industry development plan (2021-2035)” was announced. The plan aims to increase the share of NEVs in the new vehicle market to 20% by 2025.
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続きを読む... Production of PHEVs and BEVs (NEVs) in China may surpass 1.5 million units in 2021
DiDi is developing its own BEV with BYD
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DiDi is developing its own BEV with BYD
- In November 2020, DiDi Chuxing, the largest ride-hailing platform in China (equivalent to Uber in North America and Europe), which is said to have around 400 million monthly active users, unveiled the "D1", a BEV developed jointly with the Chinese carmaker BYD. BYD is in charge of the development and production of the model, but it is the first model developed on the initiative of a private tech service company.
- The business model linked to D1 is different from what currently exists. The D1 is purchased by an operating company affiliated to DiDi, and the DiDi driver rents the D1 to the operating company for its use. User fees are calculated based on mileage.
- DiDi's objective with this new partnership is to provide drivers and users with vehicles specially designed for car sharing services: seat with a specific design, steering wheel with a button dedicated to user orders and police emergency calls, sliding door on the right side, infotainment screens, etc ...
- On the other hand, BYD is seeking to secure new sales channels through this partnership. However, if such a business model is successful, carmakers might only become subcontractors. In 2019, BYD's New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) sales reached approximately 230,000 units (including 219,000 passenger vehicles). DiDi's objective is to exceed 1 million vehicles available by 2025, which equals to four years of BYD sales (based on 2019 volumes). Such a volume is very attractive for an carmaker, so if this partnership is successful, it could be a turning point.
- In China, several carmakers have developed their own ride-hailing platforms such as Xiangdao Chuxing (SAIC), Ruqi Chuxing (GAC), Huaxia Chuxing (BAIC) and Caocao Chuxing (Geely). However, compared to specialists as DiDi, these platforms have fewer users. Specialized ride-hailing platforms could therefore have a significant impact on the automotive industry in the future, if the “D1” model is successful.
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Inovev forecasts 75,000 units per year of the new Ioniq 5
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Inovev forecasts 75,000 units per year of the new Ioniq 5
- The Hyundai-Kia group unveils the first model of its new brand Ioniq which will only offer Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). The Ioniq 5 is a compact hatchback sedan but which moves away from the C segment to approach the D segment, as the model is 4.64 m long, the dimensions of a Jaguar I-Pace. These unusual proportions are the first originality of the model. This could be the originality of the brand, which next model (Ioniq 6 sedan) is expected for 2022 and the next (Ioniq 7 SUV) for 2024. This design differs a lot from Hyundai and Kia models, in order to target a new market, outside the current products proposed by the Korean group.
- All Ioniq’smodels will be based on the E-GMP platform (Electric-Global Modular Platform). According to the carmaker, this platform makes possible to limit front and rear overhangs, and to equip the vehicles with a very long wheelbase which benefits cabin space.
- The 218 hpIoniq 5's electric motor and 72.6 kWh batteries capacities provide a maximum range of 460 km under the WLTP cycle (according to the carmaker). The Korean carmaker aims to sell 70,000 units of this model worldwide in 2021 (including 25,000 in Korea) then 100,000 units in 2022 (including 35,000 in Korea).
- The Ioniq 5 is produced at Hyundai's Ulsan plant in Korea, one of the largest plants in the world (production capacity: 1,500,000 vehicles per year). Its price in Korea is between 37,000 and 41,000 euros depending on the version, slightly lower than Volkswagen ID3 prices in Europe. European prices have not yet been announced.
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続きを読む... Inovev forecasts 75,000 units per year of the new Ioniq 5
Inovev forecasts 400,000 units per year of the new Honda HRV
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Inovev forecasts 400,000 units per year of the new Honda HRV
- Honda has unveiled the new generation of its B-segment SUV, the HRV, which succeeds the current generation marketed between 2014 and 2021, known as Vezel in Japan or XRV in China.
- This model has had some success worldwide, selling more than 2.6 million units in seven years, or 375,000 units per year, spread over six different production plants (China, Mexico , Japan, India, Brazil, Argentina), the most important of which is the Chinese plant which produced nearly half of them in 2020. Inovev forecasts 400,000 sales per year of the new Honda HRV.
- The new generation of the Honda HRV radically changes its body shape, presenting a simpler and more consensual line than the previous generation with rounded lines, typical of the Honda style of five or ten years ago.
- Previously offered in petrol and diesel versions, the HRV is also making its mutation by adopting an hybrid engine (e-HEV) already seen on the Jazz, Insight and CRV. In Europe, for example, it will only be marketed as an hybrid version based on a 1.5-liter petrol engine with 130 hp. This strategy is part of Honda's policy to electrify its entire lineup by 2025, like many carmakers.
- The new Honda HRV competes in Europe with the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, Opel Mokka, Citroën C3 Aircross, Volkswagen T-Cross, Skoda Kamiq, Seat Arona, Fiat 500 X, Ford Puma, Hyundai Kona and Kia Stonic.
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続きを読む... Inovev forecasts 400,000 units per year of the new Honda HRV