Do Chinese brands produce more than Japanese brands?
- 说明
Do Chinese brands produce more than Japanese brands?
- Automotive production (passenger cars and light utility vehicles ) by Asian brands, primarily Japanese, Chinese, and Korean, has been generally increasing since 2014, now representing 56% of global automotive production, compared to 55% in 2024, 54% in 2023, 51% in 2022, 50% in 2021, 49% in 2020, 48% in 2018, 47% in 2016, and 46% in 2014. These Japanese, Chinese, and Korean brands will exceed 50 million vehicles produced for the first time in 2025, whereas they produced fewer than 40 million in 2010. Note: Chinese brands are defined as brands of Chinese origin or under Chinese control. The same applies to Japanese and Korean brands.
- Japanese brands currently produce more vehicles than all Chinese brands combined, but the gap between Japanese and Chinese brands has been narrowing year by year since 2021, reaching only 4 million units in 2025, compared to 6 million in 2024, 10 million in 2023, 12 million in 2022, and 14 million in 2021. Furthermore, Japanese automotive production appears to have been declining since 2023, while Chinese production has been steadily increasing since 2020. It could therefore surpass Japanese production in 2027 or 2028. As for Korean production, it has remained stable for about ten years, albeit at a much lower level.
- It is interesting to note that Chinese brands also experienced a degree of stability between 2010 and 2020, contrary to popular belief. The significant growth these brands have seen only began in 2021, thanks to the substantial development of battery electric vehicles marketed by Chinese carmakers.
Is the Ford plant in Valencia (Spain) under threat?
- 说明
Is the Ford plant in Valencia (Spain) under threat?
- After the end of production of the Ford Mondeo (2022), Galaxy /S-Max (2023), Transit Connect (2023), the Ford plant in Valencia (Spain) has been producing only the Ford Kuga SUV (C-segment) since 2024. The plant's production volume will not exceed 100,000 units in 2025, compared to 200,000 in 2020 and 350,000 in 2017.
- Furthermore, the carmaker's initial objective of producing electric vehicles at the Valence plant appears to be seriously jeopardized, following both the poor sales of the battery electric Ford Capri and Explorer and the decision to produce its future battery electric B-segment models in partnership with Renault at a Renault assembly plant in northern France. Given this situation, the future of the Ford plant in Valence is now in question.
- Kuga in a battery electric version at the Valencia site would still remain if Ford had not distanced itself from the Volkswagen group to produce new battery electric vehicles, because Ford does not seem able to design on its own a battery electric vehicle sold in mass profitably under its own brand.
- Given that the American producer has rather entered into a new strategy which consists of collaborating with Renault in addition to (or in replacement?) to Volkswagen, it would be entirely conceivable that Ford will launch new battery electric SUVs from the future Renault battery electric SUVs produced at the Spanish site of Palencia from 2028 , the year 2028 marking precisely the end of life of the Kuga which was born in 2020.
What are the consequences of the end of the Fiesta for Ford?
- 说明
What are the consequences of the end of the Fiesta for Ford?
- Ford stopped production in Europe of its B-segment Fiesta sedan in 2023, without replacing it, a strategy in line with its policy practiced in the United States, namely to eliminate all sedans and concentrate on SUVs.
- The Ford Fiesta hatchback has been a very important model for Ford Europe, ranking in the top five best-selling models in Europe between 2009 and 2019 (second best-selling model between 2012 and 2015), and even the top-selling model in the UK between 2009 and 2020.
- In terms of production, the Ford Fiesta peaked in 2009, with 500,000 units produced, before gradually falling to 400,000 units in 2011, 300,000 in 2017 and 240,000 in 2019.
- After the arrival of the small B-segment SUVs, EcoSport and then Puma, the Fiesta continued to decline: 140,000 in 2020, 53,000 in 2021, 81,000 in 2022 and 65,000 in 2023. In total, nearly 6 million Ford Fiestas were produced in Europe between 2005 and 2025, and three times more if we count the years since the origins of the Fiesta (1976).
- Ecosport and Puma SUVs have not offset the drop of Fiesta sales, as these two models have totaled only one million units produced in Europe since 2017. Ford has therefore recently decided to provide a successor to the Fiesta by launching in 2028 a new battery electric B-segment car based on the Renault 5 E-Tech which will be produced at Renault in Douai, but it is clear that the quantities envisaged will never approach those of the old Fiesta.
Malaysia produces between 700,000 and 800,000 light vehicles per year
- 说明
Malaysia produces between 700,000 and 800,000 light vehicles per year
- Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country with a population of nearly 35 million. Its automotive industry has a long history, dating back to 1967, although Ford had opened a car assembly plant in Singapore as early as 1926, when Singapore was part of Malaysia. Initially dominated by foreign brands, the Malaysian automotive industry established its own national brands in 1983 (Proton) and 1993 (Perodua). Proton produces mid-size cars, while Perodua produces small cars (including Japanese Daihatsu models). Proton was acquired in 2017 by the Chinese company Geely, which acquired a 49.9% stake, with the remaining 50.1% held by domestic companies.
- Malaysian production remained at the level of 500,000 to 600,000 vehicles per year for a long time (particularly between 2005 and 2021), but since 2022, Malaysia has been producing between 700,000 and 800,000 vehicles per year (thanks to a post-Covid recovery), with nearly 50% under the Perodua brand and 20% under the Proton brand. Foreign producers still account for 31% of national production, with the Japanese companies Toyota (13% of production) and Honda (10% of production) as the leaders. Chinese producers are beginning to establish a presence in the country, with Chery as the leading player.
- The Malaysian car market is practically at the same level as production, which means that Malaysia exports few vehicles (around 100,000 per year) and also imports few (around 50,000 per year). The motorization rate of 580 per 1,000 is among the highest in Southeast Asia. The car fleet is estimated at just over 20 million passenger cars.
Kia's factory in Zilina (Slovakia) is converting to electric vehicles
- 说明
Kia's factory in Zilina (Slovakia) is converting to electric vehicles
- Kia's Žilina plant, operational since 2007, has until now produced internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles (Ceed, ProCeed, XCeed, Sportage). A major change is coming this fall 2025, as the first battery electric cars (Kia EV4) will be produced there. The Žilina plant in Slovakia is thus following the strategy already implemented at Hyundai's Nosovice plant in the Czech Republic, which has been producing the battery electric Hyundai Kona since 2020.
- Kia plans to produce 180,000 battery electric vehicles per year at its Slovakian site in Zilina from 2027 onwards, representing 60% of the plant's capacity, while Hyundai currently produces only 10% battery electric vehicles (Hyundai Kona) at its Nosovice plant, which has identical production capacity (300,000 vehicles per year) and has not communicated any targets for 2027.
- Kia's Zilina plant has been a resounding success, with production volumes frequently exceeding 200,000 units per year (for 16 out of 19 years) and even surpassing 250,000 units per year (for 7 out of 19 years). This success is primarily attributable to the Sportage SUV, which has enjoyed considerable popularity in Europe over the past decade (all models produced in Zilina are sold in Europe).
- After the EV4 model (C-segment sedan) was introduced on the Zilina assembly lines in September 2025, the EV2 model (B-segment SUV), which will be officially presented in January 2026, will be added during 2026. Logically, the EV3 model (C-segment SUV) should be produced at this site from 2027.