FCA presents its 2016-2018 product plan
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FCA presents its 2016-2018 product plan
- The FCA-product plan for 2016-2018 was communicated in recent weeks. These new models will be marketed both in North America and on the European continent. These two regions represent the two largest markets for the FCA group (respectively, 1.7 million and 700 000 vehicles in the first nine months of 2015), ahead of South American and Asian markets.
- In 2016:
- For Europe and North America, Fiat 124 spider (based on the Mazda MX5), the new Jeep Compass, the new Dodge Journey (Fiat Freemont in Europe), the Alfa Giulia (segment D sedan).
- For Europe only, the Fiat Tipo (C segment sedan - European version of the Aegea presented in 2015).
- For North America only, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan, a Chrysler 100 (which will be based on Fiat 500X / Jeep Renegade).
- In 2017:
- For Europe and North America and the new Jeep Wrangler pickup, Alfa SUV (segment D).
- For Europe only, the Fiat Punto (segment B).
- For North America only, the new Dodge Ram pickup.
- In 2018:
- For Europe and North America, the new Alfa Alfetta (sedan segment E).
- In North America only, the Dodges subcompact (based on the Chrysler 100), new Dodge Charger and Dodge Challenger. A 2-door convertible based on the Challenger should be launched the same year, it would take the old name Barracuda (formerly attributed to a Plymouth model). Note that within the commercial vehicle segment the Dodge Ram, FCA will complete its Promaster (Ducato) and Promaster City (Doblo) range of vans by a rebadged Iveco Daily.
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Renault begins the production of its Duster based pickup
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Renault begins the production of its Duster based pickup
- Renault has started the production of its Oroch Duster pickup, based on the Dacia Duster . This vehicle, intended for the South American market, started its production in September 2015 in the carmaker’s Brazilian plant, located in Curitiba.
- The pickup is a popular body on South American soil and Mexico since this category should sell nearly 650 000 units in 2015. The pick-up category accounts for nearly 15% of sales in Argentina in 2015 and in Brazil it should sell close to 180 000 units (first market in South America in terms of volume for pickups).
- In 2014, the FCA group was the leading pick up carmaker in South America and Mexico, with nearly 175 000 units in 2014, ahead of VW (134 000 units), GM (114 000 units) and Toyota (106 000 units ). The Renault-Nissan Group sold in 2014 just under 30 000 pickup.
- The Oroch Duster pickup is positioned between two segments: that of a half-ton models (Fiat Strada, VW Saveiro) and that of a ton models (Nissan Navara, Ford Ranger, VW Amarok). The model of the Renault brand (absent on the pickup market until today) is a compact pickup derived from the locally famous Duster SUV (there were 80 000 units sold last year). It has 4 doors and 5 seats, with a skip at the back that can support a maximum load of 650 kilos. Therefore, the Oroch is longer than the Duster pickup by forty centimetres.
- The Oroch Duster comes with a four-cylinder gasoline engine 1.6-liter or 2.0-liter. The carmaker has so far not evoked a future European market launch. The pickup market is indeed still very limited on this continent, although at the end of 2016 Renault plans to produce its Alaskan one ton model (based on the Nissan Navara).
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Diesel Passenger cars: Great Wall is the most active Chinese carmaker
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Diesel Passenger cars: Great Wall is the most active Chinese carmaker
- Passenger vehicle diesel engines are gaining attention in China in terms of local development and use thanks to their superior fuel efficiency and low carbon dioxide emission. The Chinese government announced the "Made in China 2025" plan in May 2015 which is intended to faster the manufacturing industry in the next 10 years. The plan specifies the development and practical application of common-rail technology for passenger vehicle diesel engines. The introduction of diesel engines could improve fuel efficiency by approximately 20 percent which would enable automakers to meet China's 2020 CAFE (corporate average fuel efficiency) target of 5.0L/100km.
- Regardless their significant benefit of meeting China's strict fuel efficiency regulations, diesel passenger vehicles account for less than one percent of all passenger vehicles made in China. The fact is that apart from Great Wall Motor, other Chinese automakers do not actively develop this motorisation. Major problems with China-made diesel passenger vehicles are high noise and vibration levels as well as significant difference in price compared to gasoline models. However, SUV users tend to prefer diesel engines with large torque and the market share of SUV will expanding rapidly in China in the coming years.
- The most active Chinese carmaker regarding diesel engine development is Great Wall. The carmaker completed development of its first diesel engine fitted with common-rail system in cooperation with Bosch in 2008. In 2010, Great Wall Motor's first self-developed diesel engine the GW4D20 was mounted on the Haval H5. The same engine powers the 2014 model of the Haval H5 and H6. In addition, the automaker unveiled 1.5L and 2.0L turbocharged diesel engines at the Beijing auto show in April 2014 which are expected to power a Haval brand high-end SUV from 2016.
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Chinese brands excel in central west China; Japanese improve share in northeast
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Chinese brands excel in central west China; Japanese improve share in northeast
- In China, looking at sales by brand origin, Europeans fell nationwide while Japanese and Chinese increased. VW sales dropped 10.4 percent in the first seven months of 2015, driving down overall European sales. Positive growth of Japanese brands was driven by good performance of most automakers. Honda increased sales mainly in the SUV segment, while Toyota in the C segment. Japanese share went up in the entire country, but increase in share was especially remarkable in northeast China.
- All newly-launched Chinese SUV brands increased sales, indicating particularly strong demand for SUVs in China. Great Wall Motor's Haval brand realized an outstanding growth of 86.6 percent. The brand's H6 model, marketed with an entry price of 99,800 CNY, has become a hit model.
- Chinese models increased share in all of China; however, their growth was especially notable in west and central China. Korean brands dropped in all of China except the northeast part of the country.
- Looking at sales by segment in the first seven months of 2015, SUVs posted positive growth in all regions, but especially in west China, up 31.7 percent, taking the largest share in the passenger vehicle market in the region. The C-MPV segment expanded as well. In contrast, the D, C, B and A segments declined along with the B-MPV segment which represents small utility vehicles. Sales volume of the E and other high-end segments remained the same as in the previous year.
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Russian market Forecast in 2016 (PC+LUV)
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Russian market Forecast in 2016 (PC+LUV)
- In 2015, the Russian automotive market (PC + LUV) should know an even stronger fall than the one known in 2014, as Inovev expects 1.75 million units this year, representing a decrease of nearly 30%, compared to the previous year.
- The economy is in recession. Falling oil prices, international sanctions and capital outflow have reduced investments, domestic consumption and imports. The strong inflation reduced net incomes, especially those of the working class. According to OECD, recovery in 2016 will be uncertain due to external environment and lack of structural reforms.
- For the automotive market, however, we observed in recent months a slowdown in the vehicle sales fall which means that the reboot of the market is not so far. This reboot would occur towards the end of 2016. The volume of registrations is expected to be slightly above 2 million units, representing an increase of 18% compared to the previous year.
- Following new model to be launched in 2016 can stimulate the Russian market during the year, are worthy to mention : the Lada Vesta (replacing the Priora) and X-Ray (Lada branded version of the Renault Duster).
- The Russian market also remains very dependent on imports. These have fallen by 57% over the first eight months of 2015 compared to the previous year.
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