The CLA will become Mercedes' entry-level model
- 说明
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.
Renault to stop production of the Mercedes Citan / T Class
- 说明
Renault to stop production of the Mercedes Citan / T Class
- Following an agreement between Renault and Mercedes, the German carmaker was able to offer in its catalogue and at a lower cost a light utility vehicle in the N1-1 segment (category of Renault Kangoo, Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner, Opel Combo, Fiat Doblo, Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit Connect) based on the Renault Kangoo and produced in the same Renault plant.
- The first Mercedes Citan was launched in 2012 based on the Kangoo II, the second in 2021 based on the Kangoo III. The first generation (W415) never managed to exceed 25,000 sales per year, with sales fluctuating between 20,000 and 24,000 units per year from 2013 to 2019. The second generation (W420) launched in 2021 was unable to significantly improve on these sales figures, as it peaked at 26,000 units in 2023 and 2024, and the figures for the first months of 2025 show no progress compared to 2024.
- Compared to the Renault Kangoo, produced in the same French plant in Maubeuge, the Mercedes Citan (and its passenger car version, the T-Class) sells for five times less, due to a higher price (even though it is the same model equipped with the same engines).
- A third twin model was added to the Renault Kangoo and Mercedes Citan in 2021, the Nissan Townstar , which uses the same body and engines of the Kangoo and Citan, whose sales volume is close to that of the Citan.
- For Mercedes, which has the Vito in the N1-2 segment (101,000 sales in 2024) and the Sprinter (219,000 sales in 2024) in the N1-3 segment, the sales volume of the Citan is too low to sustain the career of this model. The German carmaker has therefore decided to definitively stop its sales in May 2026 and its production will therefore cease at the Renault site in Maubeuge in spring 2026.
Toyota Group presents the Toyota BZ7 and Lexus ES
- 说明
Toyota Group presents the Toyota BZ7 and Lexus ES
Toyota and Lexus have unveiled their new E-segment sedans, the Toyota BZ7 and Lexus ES. They will be available in China from 2025 and in other global markets from 2026.
1. The Lexus ES continues the brand line of E-segment sedans derived from the Toyota Camry.
• The new generation now measures 5.14 m (+16 cm compared to the previous one) and its shapes are more fluid than in the past.
• Like the previous generation models, it will be available as a full hybrid (F-HEV). But, unlike the previous generation, it will be offered as a battery electric (BEV). No purely thermal version is available in either the previous or the new generation.
• The car weighs 1,840 kg for the 2.0 hybrid version, 1,940 kg for the 2.5 hybrid version and 2,240 kg for the electric version. Its platform is known as TNGA-GA-K.
2. The Toyota BZ7 is an E-segment sedan derived from the Lexus ES, which could anticipate the future Camry.
• But this new model is only offered in a battery electric version, which was never the case with the Camry .
• Designed on the TNGA-GA-K platform, it is the fifth battery electric model from the Toyota brand, after the BZ3, BZ3X, BZ4X and BZ5 (the BZ being sedans, the BZX being SUVs).
• Specially designed for the Chinese market, it was developed by Toyota and its Chinese partner GAC Group.
• It takes on the imposing dimensions and weight of the Lexus ES and aims to consolidate Toyota's position in the Chinese market.
Toyota sold 1,516,000 cars in China in 2024, down 13.4% from 2023. In the first quarter of 2025, Toyota reversed the trend by selling 320,000 cars in China, up 10% from the first quarter of 2024.
Target of 400,000 vehicles produced by Renault in Douai by 2030 – Difficult to achieve
- 说明
Target of 400,000 vehicles produced by Renault in Douai by 2030 – Difficult to achieve
- The Renault plant in Douai (Hauts de France) is now dedicated to the production of battery electric vehicles.
- Two years ago, Renault announced an ambitious target of producing 400,000 electric cars at the Douai site by 2030. The production program then included the Renault Mégane E-Tech, the Renault Scénic E-Tech, as well as the future Renault 5 E-Tech, Alpine A290, and Nissan Micra EV, the latter two models being based on the Renault 5 E-Tech.
- In 2024, the Douai plant produced 89,921 electric cars (compared to 50,781 in 2023), including 30,260 Mégane E-Techs, 34,282 Scénic E-Techs and 25,379 R5 E-Techs. From 2023 to 2024, production increased by 40,000 units.
- At this rate, i.e. 40,000 more units produced each year, we should approach 330,000 units produced in 2030, a figure lower but relatively close to the target of 400,000 units produced.
- But is such a growth rate can be maintained? In fact, it seems difficult to sustain. The Mégane and Scénic are not expected to make significant progress after 2025. And only one new model is planned for 2026 to boost Douai production: the Nissan Micra EV. The Renault 5 E-Tech will therefore have the task of filling up to saturate the plant's activity. Given these factors, Inovev is counting on only 200,000 cars produced in Douai (all models combined) in 2030, half of the announced targets.
Evolution of global automobile production since 1900: the exceptional rise of China
- 说明
Evolution of global automobile production since 1900: the exceptional rise of China
- The volume of global automobile production has steadily increased since the end of World War II, climbing from 0 to 90 million vehicles (PC+LCV) from 1945 to 2024.
- This upward curve was, however, interrupted by small crises and by larger crises such as the first oil shock (1973/1974), the second oil shock (1979/1980), the financial crisis of 2008/2009 and the Covid crisis (2020). In 2023 and 2024, the curve stagnates at 90 million units, whereas 95 million units were reached in the years 2016/2017/2018.
- Are we witnessing the beginning of a stagnation in global automobile production, or will it gradually increase to reach 100 million units? This is the question that must be asked.
- While global automobile production (passenger cars and light utility vehicles) has continued to grow from 1945 to 2018, the relative position of countries has changed significantly.
- The USA was the main producer until 1960.
- Europe became the equal of the USA in the 1960s before supplanting them.
- Japan emerged in the 1970s and became the equal of the USA in the 1980s and 1990s.
- At the same time, emerging countries are starting their automobile production in earnest.
- We observe a stagnation or even a slow decline in the USA, Europe and Japan from the year 2000, in the face of the progress of emerging countries like India and Korea, but especially China which is experiencing rapid and exponential growth unknown until then.