Smart unveils the new Fortwo and Forfour

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Smart unveils the new Fortwo and Forfour

- Smart unveiled the new generations of the Fortwo and Forfour, which will be marketed in Europe as of November. In the United States, only the Fortwo will be marketed, and it won't be launched until after autumn 2015.


- The Forfour (which shares its platform with the Renault Twingo) will be produced in the Slovenian Renault plant located in Novo Mesto, while the Fortwo will continue to be assembled in the Smart plant of  Hambach (France).


- At their launch, the two models will be equipped with a 3-cylinder petrol version 90hp at first and a 70hp engine in a latter version. In 2015 a version with an electric engine will also be added to the range.


- Smart hopes that the launch of the Forfour will boost sales. This is the first car with four doors and four seats that the brand has launched since the first Forfour marketed only for two years, from 2004 to 2006.


- In the first half of 2014, Smart global sales have indeed fallen by 10% compared to the first half of 2013 to 47 000 units. However, Daimler, the parent company of Smart, believes that this brand is an important element of the Group's strategy, as sales of ultra compact cars could increase by nearly 40% by 2020, reaching an annual sales volume of 1 million units.

 

14-22-8  


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Construction of two new VW plants in China

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Construction of two new VW plants in China

- In 2013, the production of passenger cars of the VW Group in China reached 3.1 million units. This production is spread over 12 plants that have a total capacity of 3.65 million units. With an increase in sales of around 300 000 units per year for three years, VW wants to increase its capacity in China to support the growth of the market.

- The German group has announced the construction of two new plants in Tianjin and Qingdao (Shandong province) in JV with FAW. Both plants will most certainly start their production end of 2015/ early 2016 and should have a capacity of 300 000 units each, if one refers to the growth of VW (and therefore its needs) and the capacities of the groups other plants in China.

- For the moment, no official announcement about the future models manufactured in these plants has been made but one could imagine the production of new models ( VW SUVs or Seat SUVs? New Skoda models?) And / or the production of existing models but whose current plants are saturated and / or the production of models that were until now imported (Audi models - VW Touareg - Seat models - Porsche models).

- In the first 6 months of 2014, VW was the largest producer / seller of passenger cars in China (1.8 million units), with a market share of 19%, ranking it ahead of the GM group with 1.6 million sales 17% market share. By analysing these initial results, it appears that the 4 million capacity announced by VW for 2015 is realistic and necessary while the 5 million capacity announced by GM seems too ambitious
 

 

14-22-6  


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Renault increased its global sales by 4% over the first five months of 2014

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Renault increased its global sales by 4% over the first five months of 2014

- Renault (Renault, Dacia, Samsung) has increased its global sales by 4% (PC + LCV) in the first five months of 2014 compared to the first five months of 2013, reaching 1 093 000 units (against 1 050 000 in 2013). The manufacturer could well surpass the 2.6 million units throughout the year (against 2.5 million units in 2013).


- The Renault brand (851 000 units) is ahead of Dacia (212 000) and Samsung (30 000 units), representing 78% of total sales, but many Renault vehicles are actually rebadged Dacia vehicles (for markets where Dacia does not exist). These models represent 30% of the Renault brand sales in the first five months of 2014 (258 000 units).


- Models from the "Entry" range (Dacia + Renault rebadged Dacias) would therefore represent 470 000 units over this period, accounting for 43% of all Renault group sales (against 40% last year), thus confirming their success.


- By model, Renault and Dacia together, the Clio range is ahead of the Duster, Sandero and Logan. However the position of the Clio is threatened by the "Entry" range models but also by the progression of the Captur (SUV based on the Clio IV).


- The region where the Renault group increased the most in the first five months of 2014 was Europe (+17%). China and Korea (with the Samsung brand) are also making progress but volumes remain low (7 000 units in China and 28 000 in Korea). In other areas, Renault suffered from lower sales in Russian, Ukrainian, Indian and Argentine markets.

 

 

14-22-5  


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The new Skoda product plan (2014-2018)

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The new Skoda product plan (2014-2018)

- The Czech brand Skoda (a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group) currently offers seven vehicle ranges: a supermini from segment A (Citigo), a city-car from segment B (Fabia), a Crossover from segment B (Roomster), an SUV from segment B (Yeti), a sedan from segment C (Rapid), a sedan from segment D (Octavia) alongside a sedan from segment E (Superb).

- Škoda sold last year 920 000 cars globally and expects to reach 1.5 million annual sales by 2018. To achieve this, Skoda will start by unveiling the third generation Fabia for its world premier at the Paris Motor Show in September 2014. A estate variant of this model is expected to be launched in 2015.

- In 2015, Skoda plans to launch the new generation Superb in a sedan version (in March at the Geneva Motor Show) and an estate version (in September at the IAA). The Superb will be available in a hybrid rechargeable version. This will be the first Škoda to be equipped with this type of engine.

- In 2016, the Czech subsidiary of the Volkswagen group should market a new segment C SUV (based on the VW Tiguan), followed in 2017 by the new Roomster and Yeti. Finally, Skoda is preparing for 2018 a small segment A SUV (based on the VW Taigun). Skoda's Product plan is thus to renew the existing models and expand its range of SUVs to segments A and C. The Skoda range will therefore have nine model ranges in 2018, instead of seven in 2014, and most will have been launched between 2014 and 2018. By this time, the Rapid and Octavia will be the most ancient models in the range (launched in 2012) and should therefore, according to our estimates, be replaced in 2019.
 

14-22-7  


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Brazil: Production PC + LCVs is falling sharply in 2014

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Brazil: Production PC + LCVs is falling sharply in 2014

- During the first half of 2014, car production (PC + LCVs) in Brazil fell by 16.8% compared to the same period last year. Production stood at 1 566 000 units and now ranks Brazil just behind Mexico (1 598 000 units). All manufacturers are affected except Hyundai (+36% reaching 86 000 units) and Renault-Nissan (+15% reaching 108 000 units), while Toyota stayed stable (58 000 units).


- While Mexican production is mainly driven by exports (83% of production), the drop in Brazilian production is the result of the decline of the local market and the decrease in exports.


- Indeed, in the first half of 2014, vehicle registrations fell by 7.6% to stand at 1 663 000 units.  The low economic growth and rising inflation impacted the market. The arguments advanced by the ANFAVEA (National Brazilian Association of Manufacturers)  on the effects of the World Cup and the number of days worked are however more difficult to measure.


- As for exports, the decline in the Argentine market ( Brazil's first export country) as well as instability in customs agreements between the two countries have also had a negative impact. Hence exports are down 35.4%.


- For the second half of 2014, production forecasts may be better as a result of the entry of new customs agreements between Argentina and Brazil that will improve exports and even more so if the new government's plan to boost the purchase of vehicles produced in Brazil meets the aimed success. This plan provides for the establishment by public banks of credits and loans For the acquisition of locally produced vehicles (which may cover up to 90% of the price).

 

 

14-22-3  


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  1. BMW is going to build a plant in Mexico
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  3. Volkswagen unveils the new Passat
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