Irish market fell 60% since 2007

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Irish market fell 60% since 2007

 

- The Irish car market is one of those who declined the most in Western Europe since the financial crisis of 2008. This market declined from 194,000 new car sales in 2007 to 79,000 units in 2012, a drop in sales of 60% in 5 years. The first 2 months in 2013, the Irish market is still losing 15% (compared to the first 2 months of 2012).


- The Irish market fell in 2012 down to its  level in the 80s, reversing the dramatic growth of the 90s and 2000s. The market had indeed tripled during this period (reaching  a peak of 237,000 units in 2000), as a result of spectacular economic growth. This economic growth was favored by an economic policy which reduced the rate of corporate tax, allowing the establishment of many foreign companies (mainly U.S.).


- In 2008, the financial crisis has particularly affected Ireland who had previously seen its  property values explode. Banks have seen their incomes fall and the deficit grew in proportions very important. The government had to increased taxes in order to bail out the country's finances.


- As for carmakers, the former group leaders Ford and GM have been supplanted by the Volkswagen, Renault-Nissan and Toyota groups in 2012. The Volkswagen group  accounts for  a quarter of the Irish market in 2012.


13-12-9

  

 

The Thai market has tripled since 2007

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The Thai market has tripled since 2007

 

- The Thai passenger car market  has tripled since 2007, from 210,000 units to 680,000 in 2012. Thailand is one of the ASEAN countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore) who has benefited from  strong economic growth over the past dozen years.

- This economic growth favors the development of the automotive market.  Vehicles  sold in Asean are mainly manufactured in plants of  this region (inhabited by more than 600 million people.) This region imports very few vehicles from  other regions.

- As for carmakers, the Thai market is dominated by Japanese brands (Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Mitsubishi). Only two U.S. automakers GM and Ford have managed a foray in this market (6th and 7th place respectively).

- It is to be noted that 600 000 pick-up  have been sold in 2012, almost as much as cars. Thailand is indeed one of the largest producers of pick-up in the world, exporting this type of vehicles in all countries. Japanese and American carmakers have chosen this country in the 90s as a global production base for the construction of medium-tonnage pick-up.   The SUV market  accounts for 100,000 sales in 2012. Finally  50 0000 trucks were sold in 2012.

13-12-10

  

 

Global sales (PC + LUV) up 2% in the first two months of 2013

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Global sales (PC + LUV) up 2% in the first two months of 2013

 

- Global sales (PC + LCU) were down 7.2% in February 2013 (from February 2012). However the global market was up 2% in the first two months of 2013 (from the same two months of 2012) to 13.8 million registrations.

- The decrease of global market in February is mainly the consequence of an anticipation of Chinese consumer purchases in January  (+38.4 % versus the same month in 2012) before the slowing activity period of the Chinese New Year (-11.2% versus the same month of 2012, down to 1.29 million vehicles). In parallel, Indian and Brazil markets were also down in February 2013 (from February 2012). India has experienced its worst performance in 12 years with a decline of 15.0%. Brazil was down 5.8%.

- The United States went just behind China with 1.19 million units (+3.8%).
 
- Europe (27 countries) was down 10.7% to 0.93 million units, while the region has already lost 20% of its sales between 2007 and 2012.
 
- Japan sales  were lower than in the same month of last year 2012 (-14.5%, down to 0.48 million unit).  However it is to be noted that 2012 Japanese production was high in February 2012 due to a catch-up  effect following the 2011 Tsunami loss.

13-12-8

  

 

The Opel Bochum plant will close down as soon as 2014

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The Opel Bochum plant will close down as soon as 2014

 

- The Opel plant in Bochum, Germany, will close down in 2014, two years earlier than formerly planned. Employees of the European subsidiary of General Motors have indeed rejected a restructuring plan negotiated by unions and management, which will lead to a complete shutdown of production in late 2014.


- This plant is the second one to be closed down by GM since 2010 (after the  Antwerp one). In 2013, The U.S. has seven plants in Europe: Eisenach (Germany), Rüsselsheim (Germany), Bochum (Germany), Zaragoza (Spain), Ellesmere Port (UK),  Luton (UK) and Gliwice (Poland ).


- GM plans to definitely stop the production of Opel ZafiraTourer MPV (114,000 units produced in 2012) on this site by the end of 2014. The model could be transferred to the Gliwice plant (which has already produced the Zafira in the past) or PSA Rennes, where production of an Opel model is planned,  according to the  2012 GM-PSA agreements.


- It is to be noted that Opel is under strong pressure from GM to reduce its excess production capacity. Indeed, the production of Opel in Europe fell by nearly 36% between 2005 and 2012.

 
13-12-7

  

 

Chinese Geely will not take over Fisker

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Chinese Geely will not take over Fisker
 
- Geely will not bid for Fisker Automotive. The Chinese owner of Volvo Car had been approached mid-March to acquire the strapped for cash Californian carmaker. The Chinese group found that the conditions of the U.S. Department of Energy (which has granted a loan of $ 529 million) relating to the maintenance of investments, capacity and employment of  Fiskerplant in Wilmington were too risky.

- Fisker has not produced car since July 2012 and is looking for an investor to help it building its second model, the Atlantic. Geelysaid it was interested in Fisker and its Delaware  plant (formerly owned by General Motors) that could produce Volvo for the U.S. market, in addition to Fisker hybrid engine vehicles.

- Geely could have positioned Fiskeras the premium brand of the group and strengthened Volvo on the US market against  Premium brands Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

- The Chinese Dongfeng, competitor of Geely, is  still vying to acquire Fiskerand has submitted its final offer last weekend.

 

  13-12-4

  

 

  1. The European market for passenger cars continues to decline
  2. Mia Electric sold only 800 electric vehicles in Europe in 2012
  3. Indonesian production has tripled in 10 years
  4. Scandinavian markets weather the crisis
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