- While Geely is currently building two factories in China for its European subsidiary Volvo, the manufacturer has confirmed its plan to build another Volvo plant in the US. A historically very important market for the Swedish brand that entered this market in 1955 and had already chosen twenty years later to set up a plant near this market, in Canada (the plant closed in 1998).

- The new plant project in the United States that should be operational in 2018, will allow Volvo to increase its sales consistently. Last year Volvo accounted for 0.4% of the US market i.e. 56 000 vehicles sold. In the medium term, the aim would be to reach 100 000 sales (2020 target).

- Thanks to this new plant whose exact location and capabilities have not yet been disclosed, Volvo will now be present on three continents and have five manufacturing facilities including those already present in Europe (in Gothenburg, Sweden and Ghent in Belgium) and China (Chengdu and Chongqing).

- The models manufactured in the new plant will be models adapted to the North American market, ie high-end models like the XC90 and future S90 / V90 (successor of the S80 / V70). It is unclear, however, if Volvo will be manufacturing intermediate range models in the plant (S60, V60, XC60).

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- China's automobile production rose again in 2014, + 8.9% compared to 2013, reaching 23.4 million PC + LUV, consolidating its world leadership acquired in 2009, ahead of the European Union and the United States.

- This growth was lower than that recorded in 2013 (+ 14.7% compared to 2012), but remains high compared to the growth in global automotive production that did not exceed 3.3% in 2014.

- Since 2010, growth in Chinese production has decreased, but still has an annual average of 10% over the last four years, which equates to an increase of about two million units per year. And according to forecasts by the Chinese government, there is no early indication of a sharp slowdown in consumption before 2020. Chinese production could continue to rise to two million units per year until that date. It could therefore represent up to 35 million units by that time i.e. one-third of global automotive production.

- JV with foreign manufacturers account for 60% of production PC + LUV (70% of PC production). For several years, the leaders kept their respective positions, including the VW group (15% of production PC + LUV), GM group (14%) and Hyundai-Kia (8%). The Chinese group Changan is the only Chinese one to join the top 5. The other 100% Chinese manufacturers failed to overtake Toyota, Renault Nissan, Honda, Ford and PSA.

Contact us: info@inovev.com 

Contact us: info@inovev.com 

- The Japanese manufacturer Honda has taken a long time to replace the segment B Jazz, in its European version, as seven years were needed to introduce the next gen Jazz. The former Jazz dated back to 2008. The Japanese carmaker effect demonstrates once again that the European market is no longer a real priority.

- Its sales have decreased gradually from 335 000 units in 2007 to 135 000 in 2014 (a drop of 60% in 7 years), making Honda one of the smaller manufacturers currently operating in Europe. Inovev expects 150 000 annual sales of the new Honda Jazz in Europe.

- The new generation (derived from the Japanese model “Fit” has been marketed for one year already) offers a larger and more rounded body, which will benefit both the inside space and aerodynamics.

- The engine powers have grown since the old 1200 petrol 90 hp engine has been replaced by a 1300 petrol 100 hp one and the former 1300 petrol 100hp has been replaced by a 1500 petrol 130 hp engine. The hybrid version (5000 sales in Europe last year) will still be marketed, but will now have a 1500 petrol 130 hp engine, it will also be able to start in 100% electric mode.

- Let us recall that the Jazz Hybrid will be in 2015 the only hybrid car marketed by Honda in the European market since the Civic IMA, Insight and CRZ were removed from the European portfolio at the end of last year. Finally, we should note that the future HRV SUV from segment B will be based on this new generation Jazz and will be manufactured in Japan, China and England.

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