Tesla sales decreased again in October 2025
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Tesla sales decreased again in October 2025
- After a positive September in terms of sales, which had succeeded after eight rather mediocre previous months, the electric carmaker Tesla decreased again in October 2025, demonstrating the carmaker's persistent fragility in the face of competition, particularly from China, as Chinese carmakers have made great progress in the market of electric vehicles.
- In Europe, Tesla sales in October 2025 are down 50% compared to October 2024, compared to a drop of 11% in September 2025 compared to September 2024, 24% in August 2025 and 40% in July 2025.
- This sharp decline in Tesla sales in Europe in October 2025 is accompanied by a drop in the carmaker's sales in both China (-10%) and the United States (-27%). The decline in Tesla sales in the United States is the largest recorded since the beginning of the year. As for the decline in China, it is the largest since June of this year.
- With Tesla's sales relying on two main models (Model 3 and Model Y) that are already relatively old, and the larger models (Model S and Model X) having practically disappeared from the carmaker's offering in most markets, the launch of a more compact model – in the C segment – is proving to be truly urgent to save the brand.
- For the first 10 months of 2025, Tesla's global sales are down 8% (compared to 7% at the end of September), including a 30% decline in Europe, a 10% decline in China, and a 2% decline in the United States. Sales in South Korea and Turkey were too modest to reverse the global trend.
The latest Ford Focus has rolled off the production line in Saarlouis
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The latest Ford Focus has rolled off the production line in Saarlouis
- The last Ford Focus rolled off the assembly line at the Saarlouis plant in Germany on November 17, 2025, after decades of production across several generations. This end of European production of the C-segment sedan from the second-largest American automaker effectively marks the end of assembly operations at the Saarlouis plant, which began 55 years ago (in 1970) with the production of the Ford Taunus. At the time, it complemented the carmaker's German industrial base, which at that time consisted of the Cologne plant that assembled the brand's larger models: the 17M, 20M/26M, Consul/Granada, and Scorpio.
- In addition to the Taunus, the Saarlouis factory also produced the Ford Escort, the Ford Capri, the Ford Fiesta and therefore the Ford Focus which succeeded the Escort in 1999. In total, more than 15 million vehicles were produced in this factory.
- The closure of the Ford plant in Saarlouis is in line with the American carmaker's strategy to gradually withdraw from the European market (like GM and Chrysler in the past) and to focus now on the Puma, Kuga, Capri, and Explorer SUVs produced in Europe and by outsourcing the production of future sedans to other carmakers, such as Renault. In the meantime, it's likely that Ford Focus customers won't automatically switch to Ford's SUVs. It's even possible that these customers will look elsewhere for a C-segment sedan, and the most probable scenario is that they'll choose a Volkswagen Golf, the model closest to the Ford Focus in every respect. The Golf could therefore partially benefit from the discontinuation of the Ford Focus.
Citroën is producing 40,000 C3s in Serbia in addition to those made in Slovakia
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Citroën is producing 40,000 C3s in Serbia in addition to those made in Slovakia
- Citroën is enjoying a notable success with its recent C3 and C3 Aircross models, built on the Indian-made Small Car platform but improved in many ways. In 2025, the brand with the double chevron logo expects to sell 210,000 C3 and C3 Aircross models in Slovakia (Trnava) plus 40,000 in India and Brazil, for a total of 250,000 units. This compares to 265,000 in 2024 (175,000 in Slovakia) and 265,000 (157,000 in Slovakia) in 2023. Citroën anticipates sales of nearly 300,000 in 2026 (250,000 in Europe), given that both models are relatively new and are still ramping up production in Europe after experiencing production delays since their launch. Demand for the C3 is increasing, particularly due to social leasing which in France allows people to acquire a new car for 100 euros per month, depending on their income.
- Citroën could produce 250,000 C3 and C3 Aircross at the Trnava site, but Stellantis management preferred to produce from starting next year 210,000 units at Trnava and an additional 40,000 units at the Serbian site of Kragujevac where the Fiat Grande Panda is produced on which it is based on the same Small Car platform.
- Why? For the simple reason that the Fiat Grande Panda isn't as successful as the C3. Fewer than 30,000 units will be produced at the Kragujevac plant in 2025, suggesting that the factory is operating well above capacity, even though this model is also ramping up production. The 40,000 C3s produced at this site each year will help bring the plant closer to its long-term target of 150,000 units per year. The carmaker hasn't specified whether these will be internal combustion or electric versions.
South Africa exports Mercedes C-Class vehicles to Europe
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South Africa exports Mercedes C-Class vehicles to Europe
- The Mercedes C-Class is a premium D-segment sedan whose origins date back to 1982 with the launch of the Mercedes 190, the brand's first compact sedan. From the outset, this model was produced at the Mercedes plant in Bremen, in northern Germany, not far from the site of the former Borgward Group factories, which had gone bankrupt in 1961.
- In 2015, the GLC, an SUV derived from the Mercedes C-Class, was launched and produced at the same Bremen plant. It initially supported and then surpassed the sedan in terms of sales volume. By 2024, 244,740 GLC units had been produced, while the C-Class sedan had not exceeded 43,212 units, according to official VDA figures.
- Given that the C-Class sedan was sold in 54,672 units in Europe in 2024 and 35,590 units in the United States, it was necessary – taking into account that the C-Class has not been produced in the United States since 2020 – to import the C-Class from South Africa, a country which has a production site dedicated to the Mercedes C-Class.
- In fact, the number of C-Class vehicles imported from South Africa depends each year on demand for this model in Europe and the United States, as the production capacity of the Bremen plant (currently estimated at 350,000 vehicles per year) is insufficient to produce enough Mercedes GLCs and C-Classes to meet global demand. And likely for profitability reasons, Mercedes focuses more on SUVs than sedans at its Bremen site. However, the transfer of some GLC production to the US, announced by the carmaker for 2027 (60,000 units per year), would free up capacity in Bremen and could therefore put an end to C-Class imports from South Africa.
Renault and Geely are collaborating in Brazil
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Renault and Geely are collaborating in Brazil
- The Renault group is seeking to strengthen its presence outside Europe, especially after the clearly stated desire for independence of its former partner Nissan, which resulted in a decrease in Renault's stake in Nissan.
- In 2024, and likely in 2025, the Renault Group still generates 69% of its global sales in Europe. Its second largest market is South America (8% of global sales), tied with Turkey (8% of global sales), two regions where Renault has a strong presence in terms of assembly plants. The rest of the world accounts for only 15% of its global sales, with a notable absence in China (the world's largest market) and the United States (the world's second largest market).
- To strengthen its presence outside Europe, Renault is counting on its new ally, the Chinese company Geely, which already owns Volvo Cars and is a shareholder in Horse (Renault's subsidiary for internal combustion and hybrid engines).
- A collaboration has already been established in South Korea with the launch of the Renault Grand Koleos, based on a Geely SUV and produced at Renault's Korean plant. Now, a new collaboration between the two carmakers has been established in Brazil. Renault and Geely have entered into a strategic partnership to produce electric and hybrid vehicles based on Geely 's GEA platform, with an investment of over €620 million and a 25% stake for Geely in Renault do Brasil. This cooperation will result in:
• The launch of two vehicles in the second half of 2026, based on the GEA platform. It was not specified whether these would be solely Geely models, Renault models, or both.
• The launch of an updated version of a Renault model in the second half of 2026.
• The launch of a new, all-electric platform that will be used by Renault for a model launched in 2027.
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