The Suzuki group sold 3.1 million vehicles in 2023
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The Suzuki group sold 3.1 million vehicles in 2023
- The Suzuki group sold 3.1 million vehicles worldwide in 2023 compared to 3 million in 2022, representing an increase of 3.5%. This volume allows the Suzuki group to remain the ninth carmaker in the world behind Nissan, but followed this year by the Chinese BYD which has made strong progress over the last two years.
- Suzuki has been always a specialist of small cars (including a good number of Kei cars competing with most Daihatsu sold in Japan). Consequently, Suzuki had to withdraw from the Chinese and American markets (markets with little demand for small cars) but made a strong progress on the Indian market (a market with high demand for small cars) which has quickly become Suzuki's leading global market, reaching 60% of the carmaker's global sales in 2023, ahead of Japan (22% of global sales) and the Europe far behind (7% of global sales).
- Globally, Suzuki seems to have stagnated these last ten years, getting closer to Nissan which collapsed during this period, but failing to gain a few places globally. The carmaker does not sell electric cars, which is a barrier to its development... The partnership with Toyota did not allow a relaunch of Suzuki on a global level but simply avoided an erosion of Suzuki sales, thanks to rebranded models.
The Ford group sold 4 million vehicles in 2023
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The Ford group sold 4 million vehicles in 2023
- The Ford group (Ford, Lincoln) sold 4 million vehicles worldwide in 2023 compared to 3.7 million in 2022, which represents an increase of 9.1%. This volume allows the Ford group to remain the seventh carmaker in the world behind Honda and ahead of Nissan, but well behind Stellantis and GM groups.
- The Ford group, which implemented a new strategy aimed at removing sedans from its products range in Europe and the United States, paradoxically did not suffer from this situation in 2023, in sales volume at least, since the carmaker is managed to increase its sales in Europe, China and especially in the United States (its first market) by reorienting its customers towards SUVs and pick-ups. Will this strategy continue to work in the coming years?
- In addition, Ford is very late in the electrification of its models: in 2023, Ford has sold 107,000 BEVs and 59,000 PHEVs and 128,000 FHEVs worldwide, these models representing only 7.5% of the carmakers global sales.
- In comparison, GM sold 628,000 BEVs (including 440,000 from Wuling and Baojun), 21,000 PHEVs and 10,000 HEVs, representing 11% of the carmaker's total sales.
- In the graph below, we can clearly see the parallel and declining trajectories of GM and Ford since the years 2016-2017. The former number 1 and ex-number 2 became number 5 and number 7 in the world.
The GM group sold 6 million vehicles in 2023
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The GM group sold 6 million vehicles in 2023
- The GM group (Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, GMC + Baojun and Wuling in joint venture with SAIC) sold 6 million vehicles worldwide in 2023 as in 2022, which represents real stagnation. This volume places it in fifth place worldwide in 2023, behind its competitor Stellantis. Would a merger between these two carmakers make sense, in particular to gain greater influence in the global automobile industry, compared to Chinese carmakers?
- GM and Stellantis together produce 12.4 million vehicles per year, a little more than the Toyota group, the current world leader. Stellantis and GM know each other well, because GM sold its European subsidiaries to PSA (now part of Stellantis) in 2017 and GM and Fiat have collaborated for years on platforms and engines. GM is not present at all in Europe and would not interfere with Stellantis. Stellantis, for its part, has almost disappeared from the Chinese market and would not bother GM. Stellantis is present in the USA only through its Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram brands. This competition of these brands with GM in the USA would be the only point to discuss.
- Help from Stellantis would allow GM to halt its inexorable decline (GM produced 10 million vehicles per year between 2014 and 2016), to offset its sales drop on the Chinese market, to rationalize its range with its inextricable complexity and merge their investments in electric motorization outside China. GM sold 628,000 BEVs (including 440,000 of Chinese origin), 21,000 PHEVs and 10,000 HEVs, these models representing 11% of the carmaker's total sales (including 7.5% of Chinese origin).
The Honda group sold 4.2 million vehicles in 2023
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The Honda group sold 4.2 million vehicles in 2023
- The Honda group (Honda, Acura) sold 4.2 million vehicles worldwide in 2023 compared to 3.8 million in 2022, which represents an increase of 10.9%. This volume allows the Honda group to remain the sixth carmaker in the world, well behind the Stellantis and GM groups.
- For several years, Honda seems to be in decline for its automotive division, the carmaker having gradually gone from 5.3 million vehicles sold worldwide in 2018 to 4.2 million units in 2023. Among Japanese carmakers, only Nissan experienced an even greater decline than Honda.
- Honda's latest models have not been as successful as expected and the late launch of electric cars has failed to meet expectations, resulting in Honda becoming one of the world's most late in the BEV market. Honda has for many years preferred to invest in the hybrid engine, like Toyota. As a result, sales of Honda BEV models are almost zero in 2023.
- Added to this is Honda's disinterest in the European market which resulted in the closure of its factories located in England and Turkey. In addition, competition in China has weakened Honda's position in this market, with its local sales gradually decreasing from 1.7 million in 2020 to 1.2 million in 2023. However, China still accounts for 31% of Honda global sales in 2023, compared to 33% for the USA and 15% for Japan.
The Stellantis group sold 6.4 million vehicles in 2023
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The Stellantis group sold 6.4 million vehicles in 2023
- The Stellantis group (Peugeot, Citroën, DS, Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat, Alfa-Romeo, Lancia, Abarth, Maserati, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram) sold 6.4 million vehicles worldwide in 2023 compared to 6 million in 2022, which represents an increase of 6.7% and places the carmaker in fourth place in the world, behind the Toyota (1st), Volkswagen (2nd) and Hyundai-Kia (3rd) groups. Stellantis managed to increase its sales, but at a lower rate than the global market as a whole.
- The priority of the Stellantis group is to develop its 14 brands while avoiding any cannibalisation. The challenge is all the more difficult as brands like Lancia, Chrysler or Dodge have been left aside, which forces Stellantis management to start from scratch for the reconstruction of the ranges.
- Fortunately, PSA bases (platforms and engines) are used extensively for this purpose, notably for Opel, Vauxhall, Fiat, Alfa-Romeo and Lancia.
- Among the 14 brands offered by Stellantis in 2023, three have sold more than a million vehicles: Fiat, Peugeot and Jeep, Fiat being the leading brand of the group, with 1.3 million sales compared to 1.1 million for Peugeot and 1 million for Jeep. These three brands account for more than 50% of Stellantis' global sales. When it comes to battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, Stellantis sold 275,000 BEVs and 265,000 PHEVs last year, with these models representing 8.5% of the group's total sales.
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