Portuguese market decreased by half since 2010
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- The Portuguese car market has dropped sharply since 2010. It has halved since then, but in reality it is 2.5 times less than in 2000 or 2001.
- "The market fell last year to its lowest level since 1985, with 95 290 cars registered, down 37.9% compared to 2011. This year, we still have many business closures, especially as the government did not accept our proposal to establish a new scrapping bonus“ said Pedro, Secretary General of the ACAP (Portuguese Association of Automobile Manufacturers).
- Portugal is a country in Southern Europe most affected by the recession and the drop in auto sales, as well as Greece, Spain and Italy.
- In 2012, 2500 Portuguese companies working in the automotive field (repair, distribution, production) were closed, which has resulted in the loss of 21,000 jobs, said Pedro. A full recovery cannot be expected in 2013, even though the Portuguese market grew 0.8% in January.
Data source: File #55 - Registrations in the World by makes
Renault commits itself to produce more in France
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Read more... Renault commits itself to produce more in France
Renault Zoe Electric: first vehicles offered for sale
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- The Renault Zoe was expected to be available for sale in September 2012. But its launch was postponed to March 2013 (a 6 month postponement). Consequently, market analysts, such Inovev, had to shift their quantities forecast by 6 months. Renault expects to sell and therefore produce 150,000 Zoes per year on cruise. The 13 700 Euros displayed price (price after deduction of bonus) is consistent with this objective. Inovev forecasts the following production quantities rise: 45,000 in 2013, 75,000 in 2014, 95,000 in 2015, 110,000 in 2016 and 125,000 in 2017.
- All models aggregated, Renault targets sales of 150,00 0electric cars in 2013 in Europe, 200,000 in 2014 and 250,000 in 2015 (maximum capacity of the manufacturer currently planned for this type of vehicle) including 150,000 Zoe, 30,000 Kangoo Z.E., 30,000 Fluence ZE and 30,000 Twizy.
- The Renault Zoe is the first B-segment model designed to be 100% electric. For now, it has no real competitor. However a C-segment model (Nissan Leaf) and a D-segment model (Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera, equipped with an engine booster) are already marketed in Europe and the rest of the world since 2011 . Both models were produced almost at 40 000 units each in 2012. Due to its price and its market positioning , and despite only one world region(Europe) on which this model is sold, Renault Zoe, however, should do better.
Read more... Renault Zoe Electric: first vehicles offered for sale
France and South Korea compared automotive industry
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The two French groups have produced 11 million vehicles globally in 2011, and the Korean group produced 7,000,000 vehicles in the same year 2011. In 2005, the two French groups produced 10 million vehicles and the Korean 3.5 million vehicles.
Hyundai-Kia has doubled its production in seven years, while PSA remained stable and Renault-Nissan increased its production by one million vehicles(+15%).
However, both French and Korean carmaker groups manufacture more and more outside of their national territory, to get closer to the demanding markets (mainly China, India, USA, Russia). Korean group produced half its vehicles in Korea in 2012 (against 80% in 2005) while the two French groups manufacture 16% their vehicles in France (against 32% in 2005).
Read more... France and South Korea compared automotive industry
The compact MPV decline – the SUV rise
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-The European market of compact MPV (segment B and C multi-Purpose Vans such as Renault Modus or Volkswagen Touran) decreased significantly over last years. Market fell from 1.5 million vehicles in 2006 down to less than 1 million vehicles in 2012. MPV’s customers transferred their purchases to compact SUVs (segment B or C four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles or two-wheel drive (2WD) vehicles looking alike four-wheel drive) vehicles. The compact SUV market has grown from 0.6 million units in 2006 to more than 1.6 million in 2012. Renault and Citroën launched their restyled Scénic compact MPV and C4 Picasso within this context, hoping to give the compact MPV market a new life.
-The production of compact MPV declined from 1.2 million units in 2006 down to less than 900,000 in 2012,while the production of compact SUVs grew in the same period from 250,000 vehicles to nearly 2 million vehicles.
The share of Renault Scenic and Citroen C4 Picasso (leaders of the compact MPV segment) decreased significantly while Nissan Juke Qashqai and VW Tiguan (market leaders compact SUV) increased their production significantly. Twice more compact SUV than compact MPV are produced in Europe presently.
Data source: File #105 - European Production data detailed by make and model from 2005 to 2012