Wuling saw its customer base reduced on the Mini EV but increases significantly on the Bingo
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Wuling saw its customer base reduced on the Mini EV but increases significantly on the Bingo
- A-Segment cars have never been very popular in China, because customers have always preferred cars from higher segments, which are more habitable and more status-oriented. The most successful model in China in this segment was the Chery QQ and its derivatives, but the arrival on the Chinese market in 2020 of the Wuling Mini EV, with an electric engine and no more than 3 meters long, revolutionized the A segment in China. This model experienced rapid growth between 2020 and 2022, eventually becoming the best-selling car in China (553,000 units in 2022) and allowed the A-segment to grow substantially.
- A-segment thus represented up to 5.3% of the Chinese passenger car market in 2022, compared to 4% in 2021, 1.6% in 2020 and 1% in previous years. Note that in Europe, practically all A-segment vehicles have lengths between 3.50 m and 3.75 m (the only exception is the Smart at 2.70 m). On the other hand, some vehicles not considered as cars but labeled "cars" (L6/L7 category) have lengths of less than 3.00 m (examples: the Citroën Ami, 2.40 m long).
- In 2023, dropping sales of the Wuling Mini EV brought the A-segment down to 2.5% of China's passenger car market. Conversely, the new B-segment sedans Wuling Bingo and BYD Seagull with electric engines made strong progress. Together they represent 516,000 sales in 2023 (234,000 units for the Bingo and 282,000 units for the Seagull), while the Mini EV fell to 118,000 units last year, thus losing 435,000 sales compared to 2022.
- Even if no direct link can be established between the two phenomena, we can see that the sales volume lost by the Wuling Mini EV is roughly equivalent to the volume gained by the Wuling Bingo and BYD Seagull last year. Thanks to these two models, the B-segment saw its share increase from 2.4% of the Chinese market in 2022 to 3.6% in 2023, including 2% of Bingo and Seagull.
The battery electric Mini Cooper will be produced in Europe from 2026
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The battery electric Mini Cooper will be produced in Europe from 2026
- Production of the battery electric Mini began at Great Wall in China in January 2024. But the BMW group announced that this model would also be produced in Europe (in Oxford in England) from 2026, for the European market following thus the same strategy as Volvo with its EX30 model which is currently produced in China but will also be produced in Europe (in Ghent in Belgium) from 2025.
- We do not know if this decision is related to the desire of certain European governments to protect themselves from imports of Chinese cars (with, for example, the elimination of their ecological bonus in France), but it contrasts with the initial decisions which advocated the relocation of European models (notably battery electric) to China.
- It seems that other models could follow this path, like the Dacia Spring for example. We already know that the Mini Aceman (battery electric compact SUV) which was supposed to be produced only in China, will also be produced in Europe (in Oxford) from 2026. The Mini electric and Aceman electric will also continue to be produced in China for domestic demand.
- It is possible that we are witnessing the beginning of a change in strategy among European carmakers regarding the relocation of models from Europe to China, part of which destined to the European market through exports from China. This change in strategy would allow a relocation of European models in Europe, a relocation that some governments are calling for.
The Mercedes GLC is the most produced PHEV in Europe in 2023 but not the best selling
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The Mercedes GLC is the most produced PHEV in Europe in 2023 but not the best selling
- Compared to a European market (registrations 29 countries = EU + UK + EFTA) of 1 million PHEVs (plug-in hybrids) in 2023, representing a market share of 8%, the production volume of PHEVs reached 1 million units last year, the vast majority of which being sold in Europe.
- Production: the most produced PHEV in Europe in 2023 is the Mercedes GLC (58,000 units) followed by the Volvo XC60 (55,000 units), BMW 3 Series (53,000 units) and Volvo XC40 (51,000 units). Note that these are four models from Premium brands, the PHEV technology being popular with Premium carmakers. Given that plug-in hybrids represent a market half the size of BEVs, production volumes of these models are on average half those of BEVs. This PHEV market also seems to be in decline while the BEV market continues to grow.
- Sales: the best-selling PHEV in Europe in 2023 is the Ford Kuga (48,000 units) followed by the Volvo XC60 (39,000 units) and Mercedes GLC (30,000 sales), i.e. both models Premium most produced in Europe in 2023. Unlike these two models, the Ford Kuga is not exported and therefore the sales volume is equivalent to the production volume for this model.
- Of the 15 best-selling PHEVs in Europe in 2023, there are 9 models from Premium brands, proof that this technology is very common among these carmakers who do not generally offer small models. The PHEV technology is mainly offered on models in the C to F segments.
The Toyota Yaris Cross is the most produced and the best selling Full-HEV in Europe in 2023
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The Toyota Yaris Cross is the most produced and the best selling Full-HEV in Europe in 2023
- Compared to a European market (registrations 29 countries = EU + UK + EFTA) of 800 000 Full-HEVs in 2023, representing a market share of 6.5%, the production volume of Full-HEVs reached 800 000 units last year, the vast majority of which being sold in Europe.
- Production: the most produced Full-HEV in Europe in 2023 is the Toyota Yaris Cross (200,000 units, only produced in France) ahead of the Toyota Yaris (152,000 units, produced in France and the Czech Republic) and the Toyota Corolla (122,000 units, only made in England). Toyota remains by far the leading European producer of Full-HEV models, but Renault managed to place itself in second position with 174,000 units produced last year (compared to 474,000 Toyota) ahead of the Koreans Hyundai and Kia, ahead of the Japanese Nissan and Mazda and ahead of the American Ford.
- Sales: the best-selling Full-HEV in Europe in 2023 is also the Toyota Yaris Cross (134,000 units) entirely produced in Europe (in France).
The three best-selling Full-HEV models in Europe in 2023 are also the three most produced Full-HEV models in this region: Toyota Yaris Cross (134,000 units), Toyota Yaris (126,000 units), Toyota Corolla (99,000 units). A Toyota produced in Turkey ranks fourth in Full-HEV sales in Europe, the Toyota CHR (84,000 units).
The three best-selling Full-HEV models in Europe in 2023 are also the three most produced Full-HEV models in this region: Toyota Yaris Cross (134,000 units), Toyota Yaris (126,000 units), Toyota Corolla (99,000 units). A Toyota produced in Turkey ranks fourth in Full-HEV sales in Europe, the Toyota CHR (84,000 units).
- The following four models are Renault brand: the Austral (71,000 units), the Arkana produced in South Korea (66,000 units), Captur (58,000 units) and Clio (39,000 units). The Toyota brand represents 60% of the European Full-HEV market in 2023 while the Renault brand, whose Full-HEV proposition is much more recent, already represents 30%. These two brands therefore represent 90% of the European Full-HEV market.
The Tesla Model Y is the most produced and the best selling BEV in Europe in 2023
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The Tesla Model Y is the most produced and the best selling BEV in Europe in 2023
- Compared to a European market (registrations 29 countries = EU + UK + EFTA) of 2 million BEVs in 2023, representing a market share of 16%, the production volume of BEVs reached 1.7 million units last year, the majority of which being delivered in Europe.
- Production: the most produced BEV in Europe in 2023 is the Tesla Model Y (193,000 units) ahead of the Audi Q4 E-Tron (106,000 units) which exceeds the Volkswagen ID4 (85,000 units) and Skoda Enyaq (82 000 units). The Fiat 500e (73,000 units) is the fifth most produced BEV in Europe despite its small size. It is ahead of the Volkswagen ID3 (72,000 units) which was supposed to become the most produced electric car. The premium models BMW i4 (64,000 units) and Audi Q8 E-Tron (57,000 units) achieved excellent performances in seventh and eighth position, even ahead of the Renault Mégane (55,000 units), Cupra Born (54,000 units), Peugeot 208 (47,000 units) and Mini E (42,000 units).
- Sales: the best-selling BEV in Europe in 2023 is the Tesla Model Y (243,000 units) of which 50,000 still come from China, ahead of the Tesla Model 3 (96,000 units) which is entirely imported from China. These two Tesla models are ahead of the Volkswagen ID4 (78,000 units) and Skoda Enyaq (76,000 units) produced in Europe. In fifth position, the MG 4 (71,000 units) which comes from China, ahead of the Audi Q4 E-Tron (67,000 units), Fiat 500e (63,000 units) and Volkswagen ID3 (60,000 units) produced in Europe. Followed by the Dacia Spring (51,000 units) produced in China, Peugeot 208 (47,000 units), Volvo XC40 (44,000 units), BMW i4 (44,000 units), Cupra Born (43,000 units) and Renault Mégane (42,000 units).
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