Despite the loss of their bonus in France, Chinese BEVs will remain competitive
- 说明
Despite the loss of their bonus in France, Chinese BEVs will remain competitive
- The prices of Chinese electric cars sold in Europe are lower than those proposed by European, Japanese or Korean competition. When we compare the price in France (without the bonus) of the MG 4 (C segment sedan) produced in China by the SAIC group to its best-selling European competitors in Europe, we observe a price difference of generally more than 10,000 euros.
- Starting price (without bonus) in France of the following BEVs (in December 2023): Peugeot e-308 = 42,590 euros, Renault Mégane E-Tech = 38 000 euros, Volkswagen ID3 = 42,990 euros, Citroën e-C4 = 35 740 euros, MG 4 = 29 990 euros. If Chinese cars lose their bonus of 5,000 euros following the new regulations which will be applicable in France from 2024, there will remain a price difference of more than 5,000 euros in favour of Chinese cars. These will therefore remain competitive.
- The upper segment Tesla Model 3 (D segment) is also offered at a very low price (starting price in France: 42,990 euros) because it is imported from China. Imported from the USA, its price would be much higher, the cost of labour being lower in China than in Europe or the USA. The BMW i4 (competitor of the Tesla Model 3) is priced starts at 57,550 euros in France.
- We can ask ourselves whether producing in Europe, a region where labour costs are higher than in China, will be profitable for a carmaker already producing in China. Over the first 10 months of 2023, Chinese brands sold 275,000 cars in Europe (EU + UK + Switzerland + Norway), including more than 150,000 BEVs. Over the whole of 2023, we can expect 330,000 sales of Chinese cars including 180,000 BEVs.
Chinese BEVs are no longer eligible to the ecological bonus in France
- 说明
Chinese BEVs are no longer eligible to the ecological bonus in France
- The new ecological bonus of 5,000 euros introduced in France from December 15, 2023, like the bonuses of previous years, helps promote the acquisition of zero-emission vehicles. But unlike the bonuses of previous years, the one put into practice from December 15, 2023 is more restrictive. Three criteria are taken into account: the total mass which must not exceed 2.4 t, the acquisition cost which must be less than 47,000 Euros and an environmental score, built in order to identify the most virtuous vehicles over its complete life cycle, which must be greater than 60 (on 80 maximum). The ADEME (French Agency for Ecological Transition) was appointed by the government to construct the environmental score and publish the list of eligible vehicles. It should be noted that a carmaker must submit a demand to be able to appear on the list of eligible models.
- The application of these criteria has the consequence of excluding in particular most of the BEVs produced outside Europe (although with exceptions, such as the Mazda MX30 produced in Japan) but also the most expensive models and the heaviest produced in Europe, such as the Audi Q8 E-Tron, BMW iX, the Mercedes EQC, EQE and EQS, or the Rolls-Royce Specter (Note, however, the exception of the VW ID7 whose price far exceeds the 47,000 euros). The Tesla Model Y is on the list although a small share is produced in China.
- This list will be regularly updated depending on new vehicle launches or the production on European territory of BEVs previously made in China, NAFTA or Japan.
Mitsubishi will market three new models in Europe in 2024
- 说明
Mitsubishi will market three new models in Europe in 2024
- The Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors (34% owned by Nissan) is accelerating its return to the European market. After the launch of the new generation of the ASX SUV (B segment) which is a rebranded Renault Captur(produced in Valladolid), and after the new generation of the Colt sedan (B segment), a rebranded Renault Clio (produced in Bursa), Mitsubishi announced the launch of two new models derived from Renault C-segment models, probably an SUV and a sedan. These will be perhaps the Scenic BEV and the Mégane BEV. These two models will be produced at Renault, in Douai.
- In addition, another model will be added to the Mitsubishi Europe range in 2024. It will be the new generation of the D-segment Outlander SUV which is a traditional model of the Japanese carmaker. This model produced in Japan and based on the CMF-CD platform (ex-Renault-Nissan) is a 100% Mitsubishi design which has also been marketed since 2021 in markets other than Europe. This model features a 2,360 cc plug-in hybrid gasoline engine (PHEV) delivering 248 hp, Mitsubishi having long experience in the plug-in hybrid technology.
- At the end of 2024, the Mitsubishi Europe range will therefore be made up of five different models, including four derived from Renault models (two B segments and two C segments), the last one being designed by Mitsubishi.
- Among these five models, two will be full-hybrid (FHEV), two will be BEVsand one will be plug-in hybrid (PHEV). Mitsubishi sold 34,000 vehicles in Europe (EU + UK + Switzerland + Norway) in the first 10 months of 2023.
Toyota plans to sell 180,000 LCVs in Europe in 2025
- 说明
Toyota plans to sell 180,000 LCVs in Europe in 2025
- Toyota has just completed its European range of light utility vehicles with the ProAce Max which is a rebranded version of the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper and Opel Movano (N1-3 segment) from which it takes platform and engines (thermal and 100% electric). This model completes the range of Toyota LUVs in Europe.
- Thus, the range of Toyota LUVs sold in Europe is now organised around the ProAce City (N1-1), ProAce (N1-2) and ProAce Max (N1-3) derived from models from the Stellantis group, as well as the Hilux pick-up (Toyota design). The ProAce City is produced in Spain (Vigo), the ProAce in France (Hordain), the ProAce Max in Italy (Val di Sangro), the Hilux in Thailand.
- Sales of Toyota LUVs increased from 46,000 units in 2016 to 140,000 in 2023, with their market share increasing from 2% to 6% over the period. The Japanese carmaker expects 180,000 LUV units in 2025 and a market share of 7% in Europe.
- Concerning the share of electric in its LUV sales, Toyota is counting on 10% of sales made with this engine in 2025, thanks to the ProAce City, ProAce and ProAce Max offered in a batteyrelectric version.
- The proportion of sales of LCVs in battery electric version is still low in Europe, around 6% in 2023 (compared to 83% of diesel engines, 6% of gasoline engines and 5% of hybrid engines) while it is approaching 16% among passenger car sales. We observe that Toyota wants to grow in electric as quickly in LCVs as in PCs.
Toyota will launch six new BEVs by 2026
- 说明
Toyota will launch six new BEVs by 2026
- The world's leading carmaker, Toyota, has not been very interested in battery electric vehicles until now, concentrating all its efforts on hybrid engines (FHEV and PHEV) which it was the first to launch at the end of the 90s.
- With new regulations pushing carmakers to design and market BEVs, Toyota has recently decided to gradually enter this market.
The BZ4X SUV (D segment) was one of the first models resulting to this strategy. The Japanese carmaker has just announced the acceleration of this strategy by programming six new BEVs by 2026, which will result in two launches per year for the next three years, between 2024 and 2026.
The BZ4X SUV (D segment) was one of the first models resulting to this strategy. The Japanese carmaker has just announced the acceleration of this strategy by programming six new BEVs by 2026, which will result in two launches per year for the next three years, between 2024 and 2026.
- Among the next six Toyota BEVs, we note the arrival in 2024 of a 4.30 m long B/C segment SUV (therefore competing with the Toyota CHR hybrid) and in 2025 the arrival of a segment SUV C/D 4.50 m long.
- Toyota announces a new electrical architecture from 2026. On this date, the Japanese carmaker expects 20% of its global sales to be 100% electric, or around 2 million vehicles sold in 2026.
- This program is not so spectacular if we take into account the range of BEVs already offered by German carmakers: six models at Volkswagen, six models at BMW without counting Mini, nine models at Mercedes without counting Smart. Even Renault will have nine BEVs in 2026.