- We have presented in a recent analysis the evolution of carmakers on the European market by brand from 2000 to 2013.

- This document focuses on an analysis by group and by control group (country where the  final decisions are made) over the same period. For such an analysis, the Renault-Nissan alliance has a special positioning. Is it a group or an alliance? Renault is by far the first shareholder of Nissan (with 45 %) while Nissan owns 15% of Renault capital. It is therefore usual to consolidate the data of Renault group (Renault-Dacia-Samsung) and Nissan group (Nissan-Infiniti), in the same way as the number of vehicles produced in Chinese JV are consolidated into Western and Japanese groups. However, in order to get a precise idea of the situation, we have constructed two different views:

° one where we consider that Renault and Nissan are two different groups, with France as  Renault control country and Japan as Nissan control country (left view)

° a second one where Renault and Nissan are consolidated into one group and the corresponding control country is France (right view).

- In both assumptions, Volkswagen group is far ahead of the second group. Volkswagen group has continuously increased its market share, from 18.5 % in 2000 to 25% in 2013, by maintaining its volume in Europe in spite of the crisis. The two French carmakers come in second and third position. But a big difference appears. PSA group has continuously declined since 2002. The Renault group (Renault and Dacia, excluding Nissan), on its side, has taken advantage of the strong increase of Dacia and the good performance in Europe of Nissan. The Renault-Nissan group is ahead of PSA since 2010 and has very well weathered the crisis with a market share increasing from 10,7% in 2006 to 12,1% in 2013 (but without not coming back to the 13;5% market share reached in 2000).

  

- The European market has strongly declined from 2007 to 2013.
This evolution is the consequence of two main factors:

° less users of cars, especially in dense populated zones of Europe where people turn to collective transportation ways and/or soft ways (bikes and motorbikes).

° less driven kilometers and consequently longer use time of vehicles

- But we can differentiate very clearly the market of “Premium” cars from the market of “Generalist” (Non-Premium cars).
While the “Generalist” car market has continuously declined, the “Premium" market has stabilised around 2 million vehicles per year. What is nevertheless surprising is that "Premium"  market has not increased in volume while European carmakers have widened significantly their offer of models.

- Consequently, the “ Premium” carmakers have been in better position to withstand the crisis. However only Audi could recover its pre-crisis level. And one “Generalist” carmaker brand, Volkswagen, has maintained its volume (with however a slowdown in 2013) and increase significantly its market share.