French carmakers were the biggest beneficiaries from the new ecological bonuses in France
- 说明
French carmakers were the biggest beneficiaries from the new ecological bonuses in France
- We observed in a previous Auto-Analysis that the end of ecological bonuses in France on cars imported from outside Europe at the end of 2023 had mainly impacted sales of the Dacia Spring which is imported from China, but also at a lower level, the Tesla Model 3 and MG imported from China. The other models suffered relatively less because their sales volume still remains low at the moment, notably BYD and other not yet known Chinese brands, as well as the Volvo EX30 imported from China with a relative success.
- Which brands have benefited from the end of bonuses in France on cars imported from outside Europe at the end of 2023?
- Even if the hypothesis saying that customers of cars imported from China might postponed their purchase for more than six months or shifted to the purchase of a thermal model, full (FHEV) or plug-in (PHEV) hybrids, what seems to be the most likely is that a good part of these customers have decided to purchase a battery electric vehicle (BEV) produced in Europe and therefore eligible for the ecological bonus.
- In this case and in this case only, we can observe that six brands saw their BEV sales increase suddenly and significantly in France from January 2024: five brands of the Stellantis group (Peugeot, Fiat, Opel, Citroën, Jeep) and Renault, these six brands having been able to benefit from delayed purchases, initially planned for Chinese carmakers models, given that the French BEV market as a whole remained stable between January and April 2024.
The French automotive industry has set a target of 900,000 BEV sold in 2027
- 说明
The French automotive industry has set a target of 900,000 BEV sold in 2027
- The Strategic Automotive Industry Contract (CSF in French) for 2024-2027 was signed on May 6, 2024, in particular by the government and the PFA (organization representing carmakers and their supply chain). This contract sets a sales target of 900,000 battery electric light vehicles in 2027: 800,000 passenger cars (PC) and 100,000 light utility vehicles (LUV). See axis 4 (page 20) of the strategic contract for the automotive sector signed on May 6, 2024, downloadable at the address below (in French only): https://www.conseil-national-industrie.gouv.fr/files_cni /files/csf/Automobile/1835-strategic-contract-of-the-automobile-sector-light-vehicles-and-heavy-vehicles-2024-2027.pdf
- This sales objective is very ambitious. In 2023, 298,127 battery electric passenger cars were sold in France (16.8% of the French PC market at a level of 1,774,772 PCs) and 25,315 battery electric light utility vehicles (5.6% of the French market at a level of 378,040 LUVs). Inovev's forecasts for the French market for 2027 are 2,244,000 PC+LUV. Taking this market level into account, the government's objectives of BEVs for 2027 result in a market share of 40% of the PC+LUV market. Battery electric passenger cars sales would be multiplied by 2.7 in 4 years (annual growth rate: 30%) and battery electric light utility vehicles sales multiplied by 4 in 4 years (annual growth rate of 40%).
- The signed strategic contract does not indicate how to achieve this objective. But we can assume that the arrival on the market of battery electric models at moderate prices is one of the factors which could accelerate the growth of BEV sales, these future launches being made by European carmakers, but also Japanese, Korean and especially Chinese, the latter being renowned for offering electric models at low prices. This objective will be all the more achievable if subsidies for BEVs continue at least until 2027, because we have seen the impact of stopping subsidies in Germany.
- Note that the Inovev reference scenario shows a level of 900,000 sales only in 2030, and not in 2027 (see curve below)
Inovev forecasts 50,000 sales per year of the Cupra Tavascan
- 说明
Inovev forecasts 50,000 sales per year of the Cupra Tavascan
- The CupraTavascan is the new battery electric D-segment SUV from the Spanish brand which is positioned above the Born in the Cupra range (battery electric C-segment SUV). Based on the MEB platform (like the VW ID3, ID4, ID5, ID6, ID7, ID Buzz, Audi Q4, Skoda Enyaq and Cupra Born), the Tavascan is not produced in Europe but in China in the Volkswagen Anhui plant, dedicated to battery electric vehicles. This plant was created in 2017 by the German carmaker and the Chinese group JAC Anhui in which Volkswagen has held a 75% stake since 2020. The Tavascan will be sold both in Europe and in China. But the Cupra brand is not present in China (like the Seat brand), the Tavascan will be sold in this country under the Volkswagen brand and under the name ID Unyx which is therefore ultimately not a brand but a simple model.
- 4.64 m long, 1.86 m wide and 1.60 m high, the Tavascan takes on the dimensions and positioning of the Volkswagen ID5 (even if it is 2 centimeters lower) or the Skoda Enyaq coupe, meaning a D-segment coupe SUV with a sporty style.
- The electric motor of the Tavascan is also relatively powerful since it delivers a power of 286 hp to 340 hp (210 kW to 250 kW) distributed between a synchronous motor with wound rotor with permanent magnets at the rear and an asynchronous motor with permanent magnet wound rotor at the front. The battery attached to it offers a capacity of 77 kWh allowing a range of 520 km to 550 km depending on the power of the electric motor and the WLTP cycle.
- Inovev forecasts 50,000 annual sales of Tavascan in Europe and 50,000 annual sales of VW ID Unyx in China.
Inovev forecasts 75,000 sales per year of the new Opel Frontera SUV
- 说明
Inovev forecasts 75,000 sales per year of the new Opel Frontera SUV
- The Stellantis group has just presented the new Frontera SUV (code OV24), positioned between the B and the C segments, which replaces the Crossland and shares most of its body with the recent Citroën C3 Aircross, which has the disadvantage of a real lack distinctive Opel style.
- Compared to the old Crossland, the new Frontera (which takes the name of an Opel SUV from the 90s) is 18 centimeters longer (4.39 m instead of 4.21 m), thus standing out in terms of dimensions to the much more compact Opel Mokka SUV (4.16 m).
- The new Frontera takes up the Small Car platform of the recent Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross, a platform that will also be used by the future Fiat Panda (launched in July 2024). This platform is, remember, a version of the STLA-Small platform which makes it possible to design low-cost cars capable of competing with the Dacia of the Renault group.
- Like the recent C3 Aircross, the Frontera will be offered in a five or seven-seater version. By being at the top of the B-segment in terms of dimensions, at the limit of the C-segment, the new Frontera directly competes the Dacia Jogger and Dacia Duster. The Frontera will be powered by a 1.2 petrol engine of 100 hp (74 kW), a 1.2 mild-hybrid (MHEV) 48V petrol engine of 136 hp (100 kW) and a battery electric motor of 113 hp (83 kW) coupled to a 44 kWh battery similar to the e-C3 which allows a range of around 350 km.
- Inovev forecasts a production of 75,000 units per year at the Slovak Trnava site alongside the Citroën C3 and C3 Aircross(while the Opel Crossland was produced at the Spanish Zaragoza site).
Russia resurrects the Volga brand
- 说明
Russia resurrects the Volga brand
- After reviving the Moskvitch brand last year (based on models from the Chinese brand JAC), Russia also brought back the Volga brand this year, based on models from the Changan group.
- Three new models were presented this month at an industrial fair located in Nizhni-Novgorod, the city were is located the GAZ plant, the Russian carmaker producing the Volga sedans from 1955 to 2010. The Volga was located in the hierarchy of Russian cars between the discounted Lada and Moskvitch and the premiums Tchaika and ZIL limousines. The Volga was the medium-sized sedan dedicated to administrations, the police, the army, prominent members of the Communist Party, the KGB and business leaders. In 2007, GAZ wanted to renew its range with a derivative of the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Stratus but the model was a flop. GAZ interrupted its own production in 2010 to assemble Volkswagen group models under license.
- After the beginning of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, GAZ had to interrupt this production by focusing on the production of utility vehicles (GAZelle).
- In 2024, GAZ is cooperating with the Chinese carmaker Changan to produce three different models at its Nizhni Novgorod site: the K30, a C-segment SUV based on the Changan Oshan X5 Plus, launched in 2020; the K40, a D-segment SUV, based on the Changan OshanZ6, launched in 2021; and the C40, a D-segment sedan based on the Changan RaetonPlus, launched in China in 2022. These models, which differ from the Changan by their front face and their logo, are equipped with 1.5-liter turbo gasoline engines delivering 188 hp.