Kia completes its BEV range with the EV4 C-segment sedan
- 说明
Kia completes its BEV range with the EV4 C-segment sedan
- Korean automaker Kia is rapidly expanding its BEV range. Following the EV6 sedans and EV9 SUVs, then the EV3 SUV, and finally the EV2 B-segment SUV unveiled a few weeks ago, here comes the EV4 C-segment sedan, which will complement the EV3 C-segment SUV as well. This sedan is a hatchback , meaning it has a fifth door at the rear.
- The new all-electric Kia EV4 will be produced at the Slovak site in Zilina, like the all-electric Kia EV2, alongside the Kia Ceed, XCeed , ProCeed and Sportage, which are thermal and full-hybrid models. The Korean carmaker is giving new life to its Zilina plant by entrusting it with the assembly of all-electric cars.
- The Kia EV4 measures 4.43 m, an unusual length for a car in this segment, which bodes well for exceptional roominess. It is 7 cm longer than a Peugeot e-308, 14 cm longer than an MG4, 17 cm longer than a Volkswagen ID3, and 22 cm longer than a Renault Mégane E-Tech. These four sedans are the Kia EV4's main competitors. In Korea, an even longer (4.73 m) four-door EV4 version (i.e., no hatchback) is available.
- The Kia EV4 is based on the Hyundai-Kia Group's E-GMP 400V modular platform, like the Kia EV6, for example. It features a 204 hp (150 kW) electric motor located at the front. Two battery packs are available: the first has a capacity of 58.3 kWh, allowing a range of 410 km, and the second has a capacity of 81.4 kWh, allowing a range of 590 km.
- Inovev expects to produce 30,000 EV4s in Europe by 2027 and 50,000 by 2030. The launch of the electric EV4 is expected to come at the expense of the internal combustion engine Kia Ceed , XCeed and ProCeed . As a result, the Zilina plant's annual capacity of 300,000 cars is not expected to be increased.
MG has renewed its two SUVs, HS and ZS, which represent 60% of its sales in Europe
- 说明
MG has renewed its two SUVs, HS and ZS, which represent 60% of its sales in Europe
- Chinese carmaker MG (since 2005) has sold the most cars in Europe (30 countries = EU + United Kingdom + Switzerland + Norway) in recent years. In 2024, it sold 244,595 cars compared to 229,341 in 2023, representing 2% of the European market. Its two best-selling models in Europe are the ZS (B segment) and HS (C segment) SUVs. These two models sold 94,000 and 49,000 units respectively in 2024, representing nearly 60% of its total sales last year.
- MG has decided to renew these two models, whose careers began in 2017 and 2018 respectively . The new versions have seen their dimensions increase substantially, with the new ZS reaching a length of 4.43 m compared to 4.31 m for the old model, and the new HS reaching 4.67 m compared to 4.57 m for the old model. The two new models thus find themselves at the limits of their segment, with the ZS eyeing the C segment and the HS the D segment. Only their respective prices still allow them to be included in the B and C segments.
- The new ZS is available in full-hybrid (F-HEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric (BEV) versions. The engine used in both the HEV and PHEV versions is a 1.5-liter gasoline engine.
- The new HS is available only in petrol (Thermal) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) versions. The engine used is the same as the one fitted to the ZS, namely a 1.5-litre petrol.
- The carmaker expects to sell more than 150,000 ZS and HS vehicles in Europe by 2025 (out of a total of 250,000) , despite higher prices compared to older models. It should be noted that MG has still not decided to produce cars in Europe.
German carmakers are well ahead of French carmakers
- 说明
German carmakers are well ahead of French carmakers
Inovev compared the evolution of the global production volume of French carmakers with that of the production volume of German carmakers from 2010 to 2024. It is first necessary to clearly define what is meant by "French carmakers" and "German carmakers".
1. French carmakers:
In addition to the major historical French carmakers, Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroën, we must add their acquisitions such as Dacia (1999), Nissan (1999), Samsung (2000), Avtovaz (2011) for Renault, Chrysler Europe (1978), GM Europe (2017) for PSA. The PSA-FCA merger in 2021 is taken into account by Inovev, as Stellantis is a group with strong French (and also Italian) influence. Stellantis could also be considered a 50% French and 50% Italian group.
In addition to the major historical French carmakers, Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroën, we must add their acquisitions such as Dacia (1999), Nissan (1999), Samsung (2000), Avtovaz (2011) for Renault, Chrysler Europe (1978), GM Europe (2017) for PSA. The PSA-FCA merger in 2021 is taken into account by Inovev, as Stellantis is a group with strong French (and also Italian) influence. Stellantis could also be considered a 50% French and 50% Italian group.
2. German carmakers:
In addition to the major historical German carmakers, Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW, we must add their acquisitions such as Audi (1965), Seat (1986), Skoda (1991), Bentley (1998), Lamborghini (1998), Porsche (2012) for Volkswagen, Smart (1998) for Mercedes, Mini (1994), Rover (1994), Rolls-Royce (2003) for BMW.
In addition to the major historical German carmakers, Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW, we must add their acquisitions such as Audi (1965), Seat (1986), Skoda (1991), Bentley (1998), Lamborghini (1998), Porsche (2012) for Volkswagen, Smart (1998) for Mercedes, Mini (1994), Rover (1994), Rolls-Royce (2003) for BMW.
Implementing this definition here, we observe that German carmakers have gradually gone from a volume of 16 million vehicles produced each year between 2017 and 2019 to 13.5 million in 2024. For French carmakers, the situation is even worse, since their production volume has gone from 14 million units in 2017-2018 to 8.5 million in 2024. Despite the contribution of FCA in 2021, French carmakers lost Avtovaz in 2022 and Nissan in 2023.
Facing Tesla, BYD offers 22 different models (BEV and PHEV)
- 说明
Facing Tesla, BYD offers 22 different models (BEV and PHEV)
- Faced with the American Tesla, which only has four passenger car models in its range (Model 3, Model Y, Model S, Model X), all equipped with only 100% electric engines and two of which remain in limited distribution (Model S and Model X), its Chinese competitor BYD has 22 different models , 5 of which are available in 100% electric version (BEV) or in plug-in hybrid version (PHEV), 7 of which are available only in plug-in hybrid version (PHEV) and 10 of which are available only in 100% electric version (BEV).
- In total, BYD manufactured and sold 4,058,139 passenger cars worldwide in 2024, including 2,312,184 PHEVs and 1,745,955 BEVs. Meanwhile, Tesla produced 1,773,443 passenger cars in 2024.
- BYD became the sixth largest carmaker in the world in 2024 , thanks to exponential growth in sales due in particular to its wide range of products from the B to the D segment and the choice of its engines.
- Of the 4,058,139 passenger cars produced by BYD in 2024, 2,330,048 were sedans, 1,712,698 were SUVs, and 15,393 were MPVs (minivans). By segment, D-segment sedans and SUVs remain the dominant segment in BYD's production, with 2,888,561 vehicles in this segment (71% of the total), 637,587 in the B segment, and 531,991 in the C segment.
- Note that Tesla's best-selling models, the Model 3 and Model Y, are also in the D segment. This is the ultimate family car segment. It's also a high-margin segment.
- Let us add that BYD also has two subsidiaries ( Denza , Yangwang ) which together produced 133,489 cars in 2024.
Tesla sales dropped drastically in January and February 2025
- 说明
Tesla sales dropped drastically in January and February 2025
- Tesla's global sales continue to decline in January and February 2025 , much more significantly than in 2024 (-15 % in January and -33% in February) , and it doesn't seem to be solely due to the generational change of the Tesla Model Y.
1. It is in Europe (30 countries = EU + United Kingdom + Switzerland + Norway) that the fall in Tesla sales is the strongest , with -46% of sales in January and -43% in February compared to January and February 2024, distributed as follows: -39 % for the Model 3, -45% for the Model X, -48% for the Model S, -53% for the Model Y.A total of 25,620 Teslas were sold in Europe in January-February 2025, compared to 46,133 in January-February 2024, representing 1% of the European market compared to 2% the previous year. It should be added that the Model 3 and Model Y represent 98.5% of Tesla sales in Europe.
2. In the United States, Tesla sales fell by 8% in January and 5% in February , compared to January and February 2024, with a volume of 83,900 sales over the 2-month cumulative period compared to 89,710 in 2024, representing 3.5% of the market compared to 4.0% the previous year. By model, we note +30% for the Model S but -10% for the Model Y, -20% for the Model X and -27% for the Model 3. Remember that in the United States, the Model S represents only 2% of Tesla sales and the Model X 4%, with the Model 3 and Model Y representing 94% of Tesla sales on the US market.
3. In China, Tesla sales are down 11% in January and 49% in February compared to January and February 2024 , with a volume of 93,926 units against 131,812 in 2024, representing 2.4% of the market against 3.8% in January-February 2024. Here, the generation change of the Model Y can be a plausible explanation for this sharp decline because the Model 3 is stable while the Model Y falls by 48%, with Model S and Model X sales remaining anecdotal on the Chinese market.
- The months of March and April 2025 will be closely analyzed to determine whether Tesla's sales decline continues.