The European passenger car market grows by 1% over 9 months 2024
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The European passenger car market grows by 1% over 9 months 2024
- The European automobile market for passenger cars (31 countries) fell by 4.2% in September 2024 compared to September 2023, to 1,118,083 units against 1,167,637, after having fallen by 16.5% in August 2024 and stagnated at +0.4% in July 2024. As a result, the market only increases by 1% over the first 9 months of 2024, to 9,779,605 units compared to 9,685,850 over the first 9 months of 2023, the first half of 2024 having been largely positive (+4.4%).
- The European countries which see their sales increase in 2024 (over 9 months) are Poland (+13.8%), Bulgaria (+18.4%), Croatia (+12%), Hungary (+7.3%), Romania (+4.3%), the United Kingdom (+4.3%), the Czech Republic (+2.6%), Slovenia (+6.8%), Spain (+4.7%) and Cyprus (+6.2%). Thus, we observe that the countries which have seen their sales increase are overwhelmingly those located in Eastern Europe (apart from Spain), that is to say those which buy very few electric vehicles (including Spain). One exception: the United Kingdom, which is one of the largest buyers of BEVs and whose overall market is growing by 4.3%.
- The European countries which are seeing their sales decline sharply in 2024 (over 9 months) are Finland (-19.1%), Sweden (-7.9%) and Norway (-3.9%) which are among the countries with the greatest demand for electric vehicles. Note that Germany saw its sales fall by 1% and France by 1.8%, these countries being among the largest buyers of electric vehicles in volume.
- It seems that countries purchasing electric vehicles are affected by the drop in demand for BEVs and that those which purchase very few BEVs are on the opposing very little affected.
The share of electrification by carmakers in Europe in 2024
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The share of electrification by carmakers in Europe in 2024
- Out of a total of BEVs which represent 14.7% of the European passenger car market over the first nine months of 2024, the Volkswagen group has registered 275,161 BEVs and remains the leader in BEV sales in Europe ahead of Tesla (235,588 units). Followed by the Stellantis group (160,148 units), the BMW group (128,717 units), the Geely group (121,182 units), the Hyundai-Kia group (99,225 units), the Mercedes group (98,076 units), the Renault (68,481 units) and the SAIC group (60,684 units). Behind, very detached, follow the Toyota groups (24,434 units), Nissan (21,979 units) and Ford (18,414 units).
- What is the share of battery electric vehicles (BEV) among each of the major automobile groups in 2024 in Europe? Among these large automobile groups, Tesla is obviously the carmaker which records the largest share of BEV in its sales with 100% ahead of Geely (42%) and SAIC (35%) but it is good to specify that the other Chinese carmakers which still recording very low sales in Europe, are mostly close to 100% BEV in their sales, like Tesla.
- Behind, the European Premium carmakers BMW and Mercedes record comparable BEV shares in their sales in Europe, 20% and 19% respectively. They are well ahead of the Hyundai-Kia (13.3%), Volkswagen (11.7%) and Stellantis (10.7%) groups. Behind, very detached, follow the groups Nissan (8.2%), Renault (7.8%), Ford (5.5%) and Toyota (3.9%).
- The carmakers which offer the most BEVs in Europe in their lineup are the Stellantis groups (30 different models), Volkswagen (15), Mercedes (15), Geely (12), BMW (10), Hyundai-Kia (10) and SAIC ( 10).
Tesla's Fremont factory has produced 3.56 million electric cars since 2012
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Tesla's Fremont factory has produced 3.56 million electric cars since 2012
- The NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.) factory located in Fremont, California, was the result of agreements between the GM group and the Toyota group who had decided in the early 1980s to jointly produce vehicles in this factory. It was in 1984 that this factory started its vehicle assembly activity.
- Previously, this Fremont factory had belonged entirely to the GM group, but it had experienced many problems and had to be closed in 1982.
- The wish of Ronald Reagan, who became President of the United States in January 1981, to relaunch the American automobile industry on new bases with the help of Japanese carmakers, with the possibility of creating joint ventures with them and encouraging the Japanese to build their compact cars on American soil, had led the Big Three (GM, Ford, Chrysler) to begin negotiations with them from 1982-1984 (GM with Toyota and Suzuki, Ford with Mazda, Chrysler with Mitsubishi).
- The NUMMI factory created on new bases (integrating the Toyota production system as well as new assembly lines) was born in 1984 from negotiations between GM and Toyota. This experience lasted until 2010, when the GM and Toyota groups continued their path independently of each other. The Fremont factory therefore closed a second time in 2010, before Tesla bought it shortly after. Production of Tesla electric cars begins in 2012. At the end of September 2024, the cumulative volume stands at 3.56 million Tesla vehicles assembled in this factory, including 1.76 million Model 3, 1.06 million Model Y, 480,000 Model S and 265,000 Model X.
The CAMI factory in Canada is now dedicated to the production of battery electric LCVs
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The CAMI factory in Canada is now dedicated to the production of battery electric LCVs
- The Canadian CAMI (Canadian Automotive Manufacturing Inc.) plant located in Ingersoll, Ontario, belonged between 1989 (date of its creation) and 2009 in equal shares (50-50) to the GM group and the Japanese Suzuki for the production of the compact SUVs (Tracker) and Swift small sedans (Cultus) under the Chevrolet, Geo and Suzuki brands for North American markets. This factory was then fully bought by the GM group in 2010 to produce Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain SUVs, Suzuki having decided to abandon the North American markets not very fond of small vehicles, while Suzuki being a specialist of producing small cars (A and B segments). Production of the GMC Terrain ended in 2017 and of the Chevrolet Equinox in 2022 to focus on the exclusive production of new battery electric models.
- In December 2022, the factory began the assembly the battery electric BrightDrop Zevo 600 delivery vans, unveiled in January 2021, and then the BrightDrop Zevo 400. The first customer of these vehicles having been the company FEDEX. In 2024, the BrightDrop brand was discontinued and these vehicles were renamed Chevrolet BrightDrop, integrating the Chevrolet lineup. These vehicles have a range of more than 400 km thanks to 121 kWh or 173 kWh batteries.
- In April 2022, a Zevo 600 set the world record for the longest distance traveled by an electric pickup truck on a single charge, connecting New York to Washington, representing a distance of approximately 420 km.
- Over the first 9 months of 2024, 12,585 Chevrolet BrightDrop units were produced, compared to 5,575 over the first 9 months of 2023.
The new battery electric Suzuki Vitara will be produced in India
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The new battery electric Suzuki Vitara will be produced in India
- The Japanese carmaker Suzuki, allied to the Toyota group (Toyota-Lexus-Daihatsu-Hino) through a commercial alliance protocol signed in 2017, has just presented its first battery electric model, the e-Vitara which is not a version electric from the existing Suzuki Vitara. With a length of 4.28 m and a wheelbase of 2.70 m, the e-Vitara is 10 cm longer than the current Vitara and has a 20 cm longer wheelbase, helping to offer more interior space. The new e-Vitara – which remains a B-segment model – is also wider, taller and much heavier (1,700 kg and even 1,900 kg with all-wheel drive instead of 1,250 kg).
- The angular design of the new e-Vitara is completely new for the brand. It moves away from the rotund style of the old Vitara whose origins date back to 2014. It takes up the philosophy of the eVX concept unveiled in January 2023 and is inspired by the competition, such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, Lexus LBX, Kia EV3 or Ssangyong Tivoli.
- The Suzuki e-Vitara is based on a new platform dedicated to electric vehicles called “Heartect-e”, jointly developed by Suzuki, Toyota and Daihatsu. We will therefore soon see new vehicles derived from the Suzuki e-Vitara.
- The entry-level e-Vitara model will use the 49 kWh LFP battery and a front-mounted electric motor delivering 142 hp. This version will offer nearly 320 km of autonomy according to the WLTP cycle. The mid-range e-Vitara uses a 61 kWh LFP battery, as well as a 172 hp electric motor that drives the front wheels. The top-of-the-range Suzuki combines the same battery with two electric motors (one on each axle) delivering 181 hp which drive all four wheels. This version would offer 400 km of autonomy according to the WLTP cycle. The Suzuki e-Vitara will be produced in India from spring 2025.
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