The Daimler group officialise its split into two autonomous entities

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The Daimler group officialise its split into two autonomous entities
- The Daimler group (which should change its name to the former one of Mercedes-Benz) officialised on October 1, 2021 the split of the company into two independent entities: on one hand, the brand covering the passenger cars and light utility vehicles products, and on the other hand, a brand covering the trucks and buses products.

- The passenger cars and light utility vehicles division will become the Mercedes-Benz brand on February 1, 2022, bringing together cars and light utility vehicles assembled in Germany, United States, China and Russia mainly, as well as light utility vehicles produced in Spain and France. This entity produced 2.42 million vehicles in 2020, against 2.82 million in 2019, and is in twelfth worldwide rank, behind its competitor BMW.

- The heavy-duty division will keep the name of Daimler Trucks, as unlike the passenger car brand, the heavy-duty division brings together several different brands, including Mercedes, Freightliner, Western Star, Mitsubishi Fuso, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, Detroit Diesel, Bharat-Benz. This entity produced 371,000 vehicles in 2020, compared to 514,000 in 2019, and ranks second worldwide, behind its competitor Volvo Trucks.

- According to the management of the company, the split of the former Daimler group will allow the two autonomous companies to better face the challenges linked to the end of combustion engines, with completely different technologies: batteries technology for passenger cars and utility vehicles and hydrogen for trucks and buses.


    
 

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The production of D-segment sedans in Germany has fallen by 57% in 9 years (1/2)

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The production of D-segment sedans in Germany has fallen by 57% in 9 years (1/2)
- With the increased demand for SUVs, which now represent nearly 40% of the European market, the sedan category has declined significantly.

- If we analyse the production of the established German D-segment stars, namely the Mercedes C-Class, BMW 3-Series, Audi A4 and Volkswagen Passat, we see a real collapse in the production of these models in Germany, their country of origin and historical production site.

- Thus, the Mercedes C-Class decreased from 300,000 units in 2012 to 100,000 in 2021, the BMW 3-Series from 350,000 units in 2012 to 165,000 in 2021, the Audi A4 from 250,000 units in 2012 to 100,000 in 2021 and the Volkswagen Passat from 300,000 units in 2012 to 150,000 in 2021. These four models, which represented a good part of the German automobile production, with 1,200,000 units in 2012, only represent 515,000 units in 2021, recording a drop of 57% in nine years. If we go back further, we can see that these four models represented up to 1,335,000 units produced in Germany in 2005.

- However, these models were not sidelinedby German carmakers as they have been renewed regularly. In fact, demand for these models has shifted to SUVs of the same brands. In addition, the transfer of part of their production to China and USA or Mexico, replacing their exports from Germany, contributed to the fall in production of these models in Germany.


    
 

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Nissan will stop the production of Navara and Cabstar in Europe

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Nissan will stop the production of Navara and Cabstar in Europe
- Nissan will stop production of the Navara pickup truck produced in Barcelona (Spain) before the end of the year after stopping the production of the small Cabstar truck in Avila (Spain). Nissan will therefore have closed its two Spanish factories before December 2021, and only remains in Europe its British plant of Sunderland, which produces the Nissan Juke, Nissan Leaf and Nissan Qashqai.

- The Barcelona plant had already ceased the production of Renault Alaskan and Mercedes Classe X pick-ups, and will cease the production of NV200 and NV e-200 vans in the coming weeks, which will be replaced by the new Nissan Townstar (twin brother of the Renault Kangoo and Mercedes Citan), which has just been unveiled.

- The Avila plant, meanwhile, ceased the production of the Renault Maxity and Nissan Cabstar small trucks late last year, with current sales of these vehicles being made on stock.

- This closure of Nissan plants in Europe can be explained for several reasons: Firstly, a pick-up market which did not took of in Europe as much as the carmakers had hoped. Secondly, a cheaper production cost for pick-ups made in Thailand. Thirdly, Nissan's sales potential which has declined considerably in recent years in Europe. Fourthly, a production volume of small trucks produced in Avila too low to be profitable. Finaly, Nissan's desire to focus on a more compact and profitable compact SUVs market. This is why the Juke and Qashqai are and will be made in Europe and why the Nissan Leaf will soon be replaced by a compact SUV with a fully electric powertrain.


    
 

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The production of D-segment sedans in Germany has fallen by 57% in 9 years (2/2)

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The production of D-segment sedans in Germany has fallen by 57% in 9 years (2/2)

- It is interesting to note that in 2021, the production volume in China of these four German D-segment models is now higher than the volume produced in Germany:

• the Mercedes C-Class in China reached 148,000 units, against 100,000 in Germany.

• The BMW 3 Series in China reaches 178,000 units, against 165,000 in Germany.

• The Audi A4 in China reaches 117,000 units, compared to 100,000 in Germany.

• The Volkswagen Passat in China reaches 154,000 units, against 150,000 in Germany.


- Chinese production of these four models is equal to 597,000 units in 2021, while it did not exceed 65,000 units in 2005, 265,000 in 2010, 500,000 in 2015 and 590,000 in 2020.


- The production of this four models mentioned in China, is only dedicated to the Chinese market. Gradually, German carmakers moved from exports from Germany to China to locally assembling models sold in China.


- Today, we are almost at the end of this process, as almost all volumes sold in China of these four models are produced in China. We are witnessing the same phenomenon for Premium E segment cars: Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5 Series and Audi A6. On the other hand, for premium F segment cars (Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Audi A8), German carmakers still prefer to exports from Germany and not produced them in China.



    
 

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Inovev forecasts 50,000 units per year of the new BMW Active Tourer

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Inovev forecasts 50,000 units per year of the new BMW Active Tourer
- Even if mainstream carmakers are gradually leaving the MPV market, Premium BMW and Mercedes carmakers continue to sell models in this segment. Ford has phased out its B-Max (B-segment) and C-Max (C-segment) and plans to phase out its S-Max and Galaxy (D-segment) next year. Opel has discontinued its Meriva (B-segment) and Zafira (C-segment). Fiat has discontinued its Idea (B-segment) and Multipla(C-segment) since a long time. Renault will end its Scénic and Espace next year. Citroën is preparing to discontinue its C4 Space Tourer (C-segment). Also, Volkswagen will stop its Touran and Sharan next year. Indeed, the MPV market is shrinking.

- Mercedes renewed its B-Class in 2019, but its sales are much lower than the old generation: 95,010 units in 2019 and 51,128 in 2020, against 128,247 in 2018. At BMW, even if sales of the Active Tourer fell to 35,284 units in 2020, against 76,958 in 2019 and 95,972 in 2018, the Bavarian carmaker still believes in this market by launching a second generation of the model.

- Given the success of SUVs in all markets - including those for the BMW brand - and the slow but irreversible growth in sales of electric vehicles, it is likely that the new BMW Active Tourer will attract only a small customer base, especially as this model will not have a fully electric motorisation but only a plug-in hybrid motorisation of 242 hp. In addition, it will be available in a 168 hp 1.5 petrol version and a 148 hp 2.0 diesel version. Inovev forecasts 50,000 annual sales of the new BMW Active Tourer.


    
 

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