Hyundai started the production of the Kona-BEV in Europe
The Korean carmaker Hyundai has started the production in its Nosovice plant (Czech Republic) of its compact SUV (segment B), the Kona, but only in a 100% electric version (BEV). Hyundai's Czech plant, which has a production capacity of 300,000 vehicles per year spread over two shifts, already produces the i30 sedan (C-segment) in three different bodies: sedan, station wagon, fastback sedan, as well as the Tucson (C-segment SUV).

In 2019, the plant's production volume fell to 267,000 vehicles, compared to 340,000 units in 2018 and 357,000 units in 2017. The production volume decline in Nosovice may explain why Hyundai decided to produce part of the Kona on this factory, especially as the Hyundai iX20 model was discontinued at the end of 2019.

In 2019, the Kona was sold at 101,249 units in Europe, including 21,562 units in a 100% electric version. For comparison, the i30, iX20 and Tucson were sold respectively at 76,815 units, 18,962 units and 137,618 units (or a total of 233,395 units) during the same period.

The Korean carmaker has decided to produce in the Czech Republic the electric version of the Kona sold in Europe (the thermal versions will continue to be imported from Korea), representing nearly 30,000 units per year, according to Inovev.

In the first seven months of 2020, the electric Kona was sold at 15,549 units in Europe, which effectively suggests a volume of 28,000 to 29,000 units for the whole year, at this current rate.


    
 

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Among the 10 best-selling cars in Europe, 9 are made in Europe
Europe is the region with the highest number of mass production carmaker, such as Volkswagen, Renault-Nissan, PSA, FCA, BMW and Daimler (unlike China which has the most small and mid-sized carmakers).

The Volkswagen group thus remained the world's leading carmaker between 2016 and 2019, before falling to second place in 2020, the Renault-Nissan group is now the third largest carmaker in the world and the PSA-FCA (Stellantis) merger is underway to create the world's fourth largest carmaker. As for BMW and Daimler, they are the first premium carmaker in the world.

On the European market, these six carmakers represent three quarters of sales in 2020, as in 2019. But considering that Japanese (Toyota, Honda), Korean (Hyundai, Kia), Chinese (Volvo) and American (Ford) carmakers also produce in Europe for local demand, imports from outside Europe represent only 15% of sales.

This proportion can be compared to what we can see in Asian car-producing countries, the import rate being even lower in Korea (it is 12%), in Japan (6%) and in China (5%).

In the United States, this proportion is 40%, but if we consider the NAFTA region (Canada-Mexico-USA), we only obtain 15% of imports from outside, i.e. a figure equivalent to Europe.

Among the ten best-selling cars in Europe in 2020, only one is produced largely outside the European Union: the Renault Clio (second sale) which comes in ¾ from Turkey, and ¼ from Slovenia.


    
 

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The monthly sales evolution of BEVs and PHEVs in Europe
Sales of BEV (100% electric cars) and PHEV (plug-in hybrid vehicles) have grown significantly since 2018. BEVs have grown from 1.3% of the European market in 2018 to 4.3% in 2020 (first 7 months) and PHEVs from 1.2% to 3.8%.

Inovev has analysed the monthly evolution of sales of these vehicles in Europe from January 2018 to July 2020.

Regarding the BEVs sales, the evolution is constant but it is disrupted by the sinusoidal movement of Tesla's sales (which only take place on the Internet) whose deliveries on the European continent take place mostly every three months (March, June, September, December). Tesla was the biggest seller of 100% electric cars in Europe in 2019, but in 2020 is tied with Renault.

The average pace of BEV sales went from 15,000 units per month in 2018 to 30,000 units per month in 2019, then 45,000 units per month in the first quarter of 2020, before falling to 20,000 units per month during the lock down. After the lock down, the monthly rate returned to 50,000 units per month and even 57,000 units in July 2020.

Regarding PHEVs, the evolution of sales was slower, as the monthly rate remained around 12,000 units for a very long time in 2018 and over the first three quarters of 2019. Sales took off sharply in the fourth quarter if 2019, with a rate of 22,000 units per month and then 32,000 units per month in the first quarter of 2020. The lock down period brought sales down to 12,000 units per month, then after this period a new surge in sales was observed, at 62,000 units in July 2020. The development of the PHEV offer by the carmaker partly caused this surge in sales, but the incentives granted by European states including Germany and France, PHEV customers since June 2020 also played an important role.


    
 

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Inovev forecasts 450,000 units per year of the new Dacia Sandero
The Renault group, owner of the Romanian firm Dacia, has unveiled the new Dacia Sandero, which is marketed in the Renault Clio V category (based on the same CMF-B platform), i.e. the B segment. The difference is based in the price since the Sandero will continue to be sold at a lower price than a Clio, even if the Dacia model is upgraded.

The Sandero should only be produced in Morocco (Tangier and Casablanca), for the versions sold in Europe, while today it is produced in Morocco and Romania. The carmaker also informed that the Logan (4 doors version of the Sandero) will now also be produced in Morocco, and no longer in Romania as it is today. This transfer of production effectively condemns the Dacia Dokker and Lodgy which are now produced in Tangier but which were not successful and therefore did not meet the carmaker's objectives. Creating a compact MPV and a low cost utility vehicle is no longer one of Renault's priorities, a few weeks before the presentation of the new generation of the Renault Kangoo.

The Romanian plant in Pitesti will therefore now be solely dedicated to the production of the Dacia Duster, a compact SUV (C-segment) which is very successful in Europe and of which an extended version could be launched soon, replacing the Logan station wagon.

Inovev forecasts an annual worldwide production of 450,000 Sanderos, sold under the Dacia and Renault brands depending on the market. Its production in Morocco will represent 300,000 units per year, ie 2/3 of its world production. It is to not that the Sandero sold outside of Europe is produced in Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Iran, Morocco and Russia.


    
 

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PHEV offer strongly grew in Europe in 2020
Sales of PHEV (plug-in hybrid vehicles) have grown significantly in 2020 in Europe, mainly due to an carmaker offer which has also be strongly developed. The number of models available on the European market in August 2019 was 32, while in August 2020 it reached 58, almost twice as many as a year ago. PHEV sales increased from 100,246 units in the first 8 months of 2019 to 256,194 units in the first 8 months of 2020, which represents an increase of 155% in one year, or 2.5 times the sales volume of last year.

These new models are distributed as follows:

1. 4 of B-segment: Jeep Renegade, Mini Countryman, Renault Captur and Hyundai Kona.
2. 21 of C-segment: Audi A3, BMW 2 Series, BMW X1, BMW X2, Ford Kuga, Hyundai Ioniq, Jeep Compass, Kia Niro, Mercedes Classe A, Mercedes Classe B, Mercedes CLA, Mercedes GLA, Opel Grandland, Peugeot 3008, Renault Megane, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Prius, VW Golf, VW Tiguan, Volvo XC40.
3. 15 of D-segment D: Audi Q5, BMW Série 3, BMW X3, Citroën C5 Aircross, DS7 Crossback, Kia Optima, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Mercedes Classe C, Mercedes GLC, Mitsubishi Outlander, Peugeot 508, Seat Tarraco, VW Passat, Volvo S60 / V60, Volvo XC60.
4. 12 of E-segment E: Audi A6, Audi A7, Audi Q7, BMW 5 Series, BMW X5, Mercedes Classe E, Mercedes GLE, Porsche Panamera, Porsche Cayenne, Skoda Superb, Volvo S90 / V90, Volvo XC90.
5. 7 of F-segment: Audi A8, Bentley Bentayga, BMW 7 Series, BMW i8, Range Rover, Range Sport Sport, Mercedes S-Class.


    
 

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