Fiat-Chrysler unveiled the Fiat 500X
 

The Fiat-Chrysler Group unveiled the new Fiat 500X. This model is based on the platform of the Fiat 500, 500L, 500L Living and Jeep Renegade manufactured with an unconventional body type with four-doors and measuring 4.25 m long.


This new model, that falls within the category of B-segment SUVs will compete with the Renault Captur, Peugeot 2008, Nissan Juke and Opel Mokka which are very popular in the European market.


In the first 8 months of 2014, the Captur has thus sold at 103 197 units, the Peugeot 2008 at 88 051 units, the Nissan Juke at 58 052 units and the Opel Mokka at 73 547 units. Ford has just started marketing the Ecosport (5 000 units) and Fiat will begin that of the 500X early next year.


The carmaker expects to reach a production volume of 130 000 units produced in the Italian plant of Melfi (with 80 000 annual sales in Europe and 50 000 annual sales in North America). Inovev forecasts a production of 100 000 units in a full year.


This plant also produces the Jeep version of the Fiat 500X, called the Renegade, which  the manufacturer intends to sell at 150 000 units annually (50 000 sales in Europe and 100 000 in North America). Inovev forecasts 100 000 units produced for this model.


The new Fiat 500X is equipped with the same engines as the Jeep Renegade, namely the 1400 and 1600 MultiAir petrol and the 1600 and 2000 diesel MultiJet Fiat engines. The powers range from 110 hp to 170 hp.


14-30-4  


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Suzuki unveiled the new Ciaz sedan
 
Suzuki unveiled the Ciaz sedan that replaces both the SX4 sedan (sold only in India) and the Kizashi (sold worldwide). Indeed, the Ciaz is 4.55 m long (thus its length is between a SX4 sedan measuring 4.49 m and a Kizashi that measures 4.65 m long), 1.73 m wide (like the SX4) and 1.48 m high (like the Kizashi).

The Ciaz sedan will be available on the market with a 1.4 litter petrol engine and a 1.3l Fiat diesel engine that powers the European versions of the Fiat 500, Panda, Punto, Fiorino, etc ...

This new model will initially be produced in India (in Manesar) and marketed locally. It will compete with the all new Honda  City (59 000 units in the first 9 months of 2014), the Hyundai Verna (28 000 units), the VW Vento (9 500 units), the Skoda Rapid (8 700 units), Toyota Corolla (3 800 units) or Fiat Linea (2 428 units). In India, in 2014, the market for trunk sedans from segment C accounted for nearly 9% of the passenger car market.

The Ciaz sedan could then be marketed in other parts of the world, particularly in Europe where it could replace the Kizashi that was not as successful as expected (250 Forecasted Sales in 2014 against 500 in 2013 and 1 000 in 2012).

14-30-1  


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China registered 31 000 hybrid and electric vehicles over the 8 months of 2014
 

In China, sales of Hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles grew by 328% over the first 8 months of 2014 compared to the first 8 months of 2013.


31 137 electric and hybrid vehicles were manufactured and sold in China during this period, of which 6 621 were plug-in hybrids (i.e. 12 times more than last year and 16 276 electric vehicles (7 times more than in the first 8 months of 2013). The sales of classic hybrid vehicles remained stable at 8 240 units.


In August alone, 5 191 electric and classic hybrids were manufactured (i.e. 11 times more than in August 2013), Which bodes well for an even stronger growth in the future than that experienced today, and a sales volume close to 50 000 units over the whole of 2014.


Within this segment, the production of electric commercial vehicles increased by 55% over eight months, and plug-in hybrid commercial vehicles increased by 91%, while that of non-rechargeable hybrid vehicles remained stable.


Despite these increases, the production of such vehicles is a very small share of total vehicle production in China (only 0.2%). It should be noted that in Europe this segment represents  2% of the total market and in the United States this segment represents almost 4%.


14-29-9  


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LCV sales outpaced PC sales in the US market in 2014
 

In the USA, the definition of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles differs from that found in Europe, Japan and China. Minivans, SUVs and crossovers are in the light truck category (while in Europe and Asia, they are part of the passenger car category).


Considering this ranking, light trucks have begun to overtake passenger cars in terms of sales volumes between 2002 and 2007, with the arrival of many new models on the market, especially SUVs and crossovers that precipitated the demise of estate bodies (station wagon).


The collapse of the market in 2008 seems to have greater impacted this type of vehicle since the decline in sales of light trucks was stronger than that of passenger cars. As of 2013, light trucks once again outpaced passenger cars and accounted for 52% of the market in 2014, where sales of light trucks will reach 8.4 million against 7.9 million passenger cars.


The largest carmakers of light trucks in the US are General-Motors, Ford and Fiat-Chrysler which together account for 60% of the LCV market, while the largest carmakers of PC are Toyota, General Motors, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan and Honda, that account for 65% of the market of PC.


14-30-2  


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The future Opel Combo based on PSA models and no longer Fiat models
 

For several years now, Opel, the German make of the GM group has stopped designing light commercial vehicles. Since 1998, the Opel Movano is actually a rebadged Renault Master and since 2001 the Vivaro is based  on the Renault Trafic.


Since 2012, Opel has been working hand in hand with Fiat in order to manufacture a small LCV  namely the Opel Combo. Previously based on the Opel Corsa, the Combo has become a rebadged version of the Fiat Doblo. Unfortunately, the Opel Comba (based on the Doblo) has not reached it sales target (Reaching only 30 000 units a year), The LCV market has considerably reduced between 2007 and 2012 and hence the partnership between GM and Fiat will not be continued for the next generation Combo. In fact, the agreements signed between GM and PSA in 2012 should have concluded in the production of a segment B vehicle.


The future Combo (2017?) will hence be based on the next generations of the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner that will be launched toward the end of 2016. The combo will be manufactured in a PSA plant; either in the Mangualde plant (Portugal) or in the Vigo plant (Spain) where PSA makes its small LCVs.


14-29-7  


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