Data source: File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe 

Data source: File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe 

- The Fiat 500 range is growing. The Italian manufacturer has always said that future range of cars from the Fiat brand would be built around the 500 model known for its success and whose style is inspired by the first generation of 500 produced between 1957 and 1975.

- After the 500 sedan, 500 convertible and 500 Abarth the 500 L (5 seater estate), Fiat has unveiled the 500 L Living (previously known under the code 500 XL), seven-seat version of the estate 500 L. Officially presented on the 4th of July in Milan, then marketed in Italy in the aftermath, it will appear in other European markets in September. Manufactured in Kragujevac , Serbia, such as the 500 L, the 500 L Living will be sold under the name the 500 L MPW in the UK. It shall not be sold in the United States.

- The vehicle has been elongated by 20 cm compared to the the 500 L (435 cm instead of 415 cm) and replaces the 6 seaterMultipla compact MPV , which has not been successful (because of too quirky design) and whose production was stopped in late 2010 on the site of Mirafiori (Italy). This generation of Multipla (1998-2010) produced 340,000 units in 1956 was preceded by a first generation Multipla (1956-1965) directly derived from the Fiat 600 at the time, which can be considered as the first minivan in history and generated 140,000 units.

Data source: File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe 

- As we saw in the article "The top 10 groups in 2002 and in 2012", the new hierarchy of global carmakers in 2012 compared to 2002. This hierarchy includes the production that Chinese carmakers carry out on behalf of foreign carmakers (European, American, Japanese, Korean), the same way these carmakers count it .

- However, if one takes into account the fact that foreign carmakers are still less than 50% of the capital of joint ventures formed with Chinese manufacturers to produce vehicles in China, the hierarchy of global carmakers is quite different.

- The Chinese carmakers that produce millions of licensed vehicles each year for non-Chinese manufacturers and fall within the top 15, with SAIC (the first Chinese carmaker) in eighth place, FAW (the second Chinese carmaker) in tenth place, Dongfeng (3rd Chinese carmaker) in thirteenth place and Changan (the fourth Chinese carmaker) in the fifteenth place. Let us note that the independent Chinese automakers (without JV) as Chery, Geely, Great Wall and BYD produce less than one million vehicles each.

- Toyota remains the first carmaker worldwide, but Renault-Nissan is the second largest carmaker in China, Volkswagen and GM being highly dependent of China.

Data source: File #101 - Worldwide production detailed by models