Relaunch of the Renault-Samsung plant in Korea

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Relaunch of the Renault-Samsung plant in Korea
 

- Renault-Samsung only has one plant which is located in South Korea, Pusan, established in the 90s. This plant has a capacity of 300 000 vehicles per year, currently its utilization rate is only just over 40% of its capacity, due to the failure of its various models (the sedans SM3, SM5, SM7 and SUV-QM5), some of which were even exported to China. It therefore has largely underutilized capacity.


- On the other hand, the Nissan Rogue sold in the United States was transferred from Japan to the US late 2013 (Smyrna plant), due to the high volume of sales on this market (200 000 units forecasted for 2014, against 163 000 units in 2013 and 142 000 in 2012). Since 2013, the Rogue is actually the US name of the X-Trail sold in Europe.


- The capacity of the Smyrna plant being saturated while those of Pusan are underutilized, Renault-Nissan management has decided to add in August 2014 50 000 Rogue to the Korean factory assembly lines.


- This decision allows us to anticipate the sales growth of the Rogue in the US market to 250 000 units per year. Therefore, the Pusan plant will recover production levels more in line with its capacity of around 170 000 in 2014 and 220 000 in 2015 (against 130 000 in 2013).

 

14-32-1  


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Do motor shows have a positive impact on auto sales in France and Germany?

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Do motor shows have a positive impact on auto sales in France and Germany?
 
- We often hear about a motor show effect influencing the level of car registrations, but what is the auto show effect? It is the positive impact generated by auto shows in hosting countries. These countries see their sales grow during the month of the event, or within the next two months.

- Inovev has observed registrations of passenger cars in two countries with major trade fairs, France (auto show in Paris) and Germany (Frankfurt Motor Show) at the time of the opening period in October and in the two following months over a ten-year period (2004-2014).

- When analysing the two corresponding graphs, monthly registrations (October, November and December) in even years (for France) and odd years (for Germany) we can see that the figures do not consistently show an increase in sales, and often even show the opposite.

- Cyclical factors affect the level of sales, such as economic conditions or the introduction of scrappage schemes (with their aftermath the following year), but the assumption that the auto show would affect sales (positively or negatively) can not be verified by the number of registrations, at least not in the short term.

- The auto show is certainly a place that allows potential buyers to confirm their choice or do an overview of for a proposed purchase. The show is a communication tool, alongside other tools and thus influences medium term purchase.
 

14-32-2  


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The Moroccan car market in 2013

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The Moroccan car market in 2013
 
- The Moroccan car market represented 121 000 passenger cars in 2013 (against 132 000 in 2012 and 112 000 in 2011). It is the second largest market in the Maghreb in terms of volume, behind Algeria (400 000) and ahead of Tunisia (50 000).

- Dacia alone accounts for a quarter of total sales in Morocco, thanks to the local implementation of the Renault subsidiary, established in both Casablanca and more recently in Tangier. The Casablanca plant assembles the Logan, whereas the Tangier plant assembles the Sandero, the Lodgy and the Dokker.

- Renault is now the second largest make in the country (after being the first manufacturer for years before the arrival of Dacia) with about one-eighth of total sales in Morocco.

- Other makes are both far parts from the first two and very close to each other in terms of volume. This pack is led by Ford (10 000 sales), followed by Peugeot, Hyundai, Fiat, Volkswagen, Citroen, Toyota, Nissan, etc ...

- The Renault-Nissan group alone holds 42% of the Moroccan market (50 000 sales), followed by the PSA group (15 000 sales), Ford (10 000 sales), Hyundai-Kia (10 000 sales) and Volkswagen (10 000 sales).

- As in Algeria and Tunisia, Chinese manufacturers have failed their breakthrough on the Moroccan market, with less than 3% of total sales in 2013, spread over a dozen different brands.
 

14-31-10  


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The world's top 20 electric vehicles in 2013

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The world's top 20 electric vehicles in 2013
 

- The world's top 20 electric vehicles in 2013 (100% electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid) is now known. It includes 7 European models, 6 American models , 4 Japanese models and 3 Chinese models . Non Plug-in Hybrids (ie non-rechargeable) are not included in this ranking but will be the topic of a future analysis.


- Among the 20 best-selling electric models, 14 are available in Europe, 9 in the US , 8 in China and 7 in Japan. In 2013, only four vehicles were marketed in all four regions (which represent the bulk sale of EVs worldwide): The Tesla Model S, the Smart Fortwo, the BMW i3 and the Toyota Prius.


- The most represented segments are C-segment vehicles (8 vehicles), followed by segments A (5 vehicles), D (3 vehicles) and B (2 vehicles). The only vehicle in  segment F is the Tesla that currently has no competitor. Through its sales to professionals and governments, the Renault Kangoo is the only light commercial vehicle of this ranking.


- Inside this Top 20, Plug-in hybrids (7 vehicles) account for 45% of sales, while the remaining 13 vehicles are 100% electric vehicles and account for 55% of sales. The range of 100% electric vehicles is larger but is sold in smaller volumes, moreover the Nissan Leaf alone accounts for 40% of sales of 100% electric vehicles.


- In total, nearly 210 000 electric and rechargeable hybrid vehicles were sold worldwide in 2013. Inovev thinks this market is expected to increase by nearly 50% in 2014 to reach a volume of approximately 300 000 vehicles.

 

14-31-9  


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Can Cadillac exist in the premium car market ?

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Can Cadillac exist in the premium car market ?
 
- The Cadillac make (GM group), saw its US sales drop by 50% in almost ten years, from 250 000 units to 130 000 units in 2013. Today, Cadillac sells most of its vehicles in the US (95% of sales), it sells  a few thousand in China (33 000 in 2014) and in Russia (10 000 units in 2014). In Europe, the American group's premium brand is almost non-existent.

- Most of Cadillac models are produced in the NAFTA region: in the US in Lansing (ATS-CTS models), Arlington (Escalade) and Lordstown (ELR), in Mexico, at Ramos Arizpe (SRX) and finally in Canada in Oshawa (XTS). In China, the Cadillac SLS and STS models are produced with SAIC .

- In order to compete with German premium brands (Mercedes, BMW and Audi) and Japanese premium brands (Lexus, Infiniti and Acura), the US group must therefore increase sales of Cadillac in the US and in China. Indeed, its competitors (especially German) are much more present in these countries, which are currently the most important markets for premium vehicles.

- However, the current range of Cadillac models spans through fewer segments and through fewer body types than that of a manufacturer such as Audi, BMW or Mercedes. Thus, Cadillac offers sedans/coupes from segment D to segment F and SUV from segments E and F. There is a clear lack of models on the lower segments, C, D, and even B. These vehicles are essential for the success of a premium brand since segments C and D are the largest segments in China (as well as segment B in the foreseeable future), while in Europe BMW (with the series 1, X1 and Mini), Audi (with the A3, Q3 A1) and Mercedes (with the Class A, CLA and GLA) have increased their sales volumes thanks to this strategy.

- Cadillac recently announced that it wanted to double the number of its models by 2020. New models are as expected: a sedan from segment F (2019-2020), a plug-in hybrid version of the new sedan from segment E, the CT6 (scheduled for 2015). Alongside a 4-door sedan from segment C (based on the Chevrolet Cruze in 2018 ), a C-segment SUV in 2017 and a SUV from segment D in 2017-2018. The new leadership of the American brand believes that it will take 20 years to catch up with German brands, however the plan announced seems rather weak in order to face competitors that are already present on these segments in China, the USA and Europe. These same competitors also have their own development plans, and one shouldn’t that other European brands will be targeting these segments: Volvo and Jaguar.
 

14-31-8  


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