VW started the production of the Jetta brand in China
- Details
VW started the production of the Jetta brand in China
- The Volkswagen Group decided in February 2019 to create a new low-cost brand for the Chinese market. Using the name of a well-known Volkswagen model and well sold in China, Jetta, the German carmaker has made this brand to target primarily 100% Chinese carmakers. Indeed, they manage to keep their market share on the Chinese market due to a lower price policy than those practiced by foreign carmakers. They now have 33% of the Chinese passenger car market and almost all of China's utility vehicle market.
- The Jetta brand has been launched with three models in 2019, which are closely redesigned from Seat models sold in Europe (the Toledo sedan, the Ateca SUV and the Tarraco SUV). Production began at the FAW-Volkswagen plant in Chengdu in the summer of 2019. After three months, production volume reached 40 561 units, with 6 840 units in August, 18 323 units in September and 15 398 units in October.
- The production of Jetta therefore begins and the volume of production remains naturally lower than other brands of the group present for a longer time, as Skoda. In 2019, Jetta's production volume will remain marginal compared to the 3.7 million vehicles produced by the Volkswagen Group in 2019.
- Eventually, the Jetta brand could take on the Skoda brand market share but also on the entry-level models of Volkswagen.
The group's strategy may eventually be to refit the entry-level models of the Volkswagen brand, under the Jetta brand, and to maintain the middle and upper range models under the Volkswagen brand.
The group's strategy may eventually be to refit the entry-level models of the Volkswagen brand, under the Jetta brand, and to maintain the middle and upper range models under the Volkswagen brand.
Contact us: info@inovev.com
Read more... VW started the production of the Jetta brand in China
Can global SUV sales growth be curbed?
- Details
Can global SUV sales growth be curbed?
- SUV sales growth continues in 2019, in most countries around the world. Carmakers' offer for this type of vehicle continues to grow, even though these models are heavier and more expensive than their sedan counterparts, and therefore emit more emissions, which is an ecological problem. But for carmakers, SUVs represent an unexpected value because these vehicles sold are more expensive than sedans in the same segment.
- Today, SUV sales account for nearly 40% of the global automotive market (PV + LCV), with 37% in Europe, 44% in China and 52% in the United States. Some 200 million SUVs currently drive around the world on 1 billion vehicles (VP + LCV), or 20% of the global car fleet, whereas this proportion was close to zero 25 years ago.
- Can SUV sales growth be curbed? Governments are putting in place in some countries higher and higher penalties that primarily target SUVs. This policy to reduce the influence of SUVs could put an end to the development of SUV sales, but only in the countries that will start this policy.
- For instance, the United States, this type of measure is highly unlikely, while sedans from American carmakers are on the brink of extinction. Ford has just stopped the production of its latest sedan, the Fusion (Mondeo), which shows a lot about the strategy adopted by the American carmakers.
Contact us: info@inovev.com
Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC sales remain below expectations
- Details
Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC sales remain below expectations
- It is difficult to say that the battery electric vehicles (BEV) from Audi and Mercedes, named E-Tron and EQC respectively, have a tremendous start, as the first will not exceed the 20 000 sales in 2019 in the world (while the Audi's target was 45,000 units a year) and the second will hardly reach 2,000 units in 2019, while Mercedes' objective was much higher.
- It is true that the Audi E-Tron has not yet started to be marketed in China (first market of the 100% electric vehicles), and that the Mercedes EQC did not start neither in China nor on USA. In addition, these two models does not provide added values regarding Tesla models, in terms of battery range, and in terms of the technological content proposed.
- These two models are rather in the category of high-end, even if it is segment D SUV, with prices started at 85 000 euros for the Audi E-Tron and 80,000 euros for the Mercedes EQC, while a Renault is charging 35,000 euros for Zoé (B segment) and Volkswagen 40,000 euros for an ID3 (D segment). A Tesla Model 3 is priced between 50,000 and 70,000 euros depending on the version. Only the Tesla Model S and Model X are even more expensive: between 82,500 and 100,000 euros for the first and between 90,000 and 107,500 euros for the second, but they are considered as models from the F segment.
- The BEV model similar to the E-Tron and EQC in terms of price is the Jaguar I-Pace SUV (80,000 euros), which will be produced at 15,000 units in 2019, marketed before the Audi and Mercedes but with a much smaller number of dealers.
Contact us: info@inovev.com
Read more... Audi E-Tron and Mercedes EQC sales remain below expectations
Inovev forecast 25,000 units a year for the new Ford Mustang Mach E
- Details
Inovev forecast 25,000 units a year for the new Ford Mustang Mach E
- Ford USA unveiled at the Los Angeles Show its first 100% battery electric model – BEV - (the Focus BEV version had only few number of sales) called Mustang Mach E, with the objective to show that this new model is part of the Mustang range. However, the Mach E is the opposite of the Mustang. The Mustang is a sporty-looking two-door coupe or cabriolet equipped with thermal engines, while the Mach E Mustang is a four-door, BEV SUV.
- It is also interesting to note that while this new SUV is unveiled, Ford does not produce sedan anymore. Ford's new American range is made up of SUVs, pickups, vans and the Mustang.
- The new Mustang Mach E (which obviously does not replace the Mustang coupe/cabriolet) has dimensions close to a Jaguar I-Pace 100% electric (4.71m length, 1.88m wide, 1.60m high) which will be one of its main competitors.
- Another of its competitors will be the Tesla Model Y, which was recently introduced but has not yet been put in production at the Tesla plant in Fremont, California.
- According to information from Ford, the batteries placed under the floor of the Ford Mustang Mach E allows him a range of 450km to 600km depending on the versions and according to the WLTP cycle. Based on the GE2 platform (and not yet the MEB platform of Volkswagen), also used by the recent Focus and Escape (Kuga), the Mustang Mach E will be produced on the Mexican plant located in Cuautitlan, at the rate of 25 000 units per year according to Inovev.
Contact us: info@inovev.com
Read more... Inovev forecast 25,000 units a year for the new Ford Mustang Mach E
Hyundai confirms the production of its pickup in the USA in 2021
- Details
Hyundai confirms the production of its pickup in the USA in 2021
- The Korean carmaker Hyundai has confirmed the upcoming production of its first mid-size pickup, the Santa Cruz, which had been displayed as a prototype almost five years ago, at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2015. The Korean carmaker has taken the time to finalise its model and study the evolution of the mid-size pickup truck market in North America.
- In 2014, this market reached 400,000 units, while it is expected to reach 800,000 units in 2019. This market has doubled in five years, which is attracting the interest of many carmakers and decided Hyundai to launch its first model.
- The Hyundai Santa Cruz pickup will be put into production in 2021 at the carmaker’s American plant in Montgomery (Alabama), alongside the Santa Fe SUV and the Sonata and Elantra sedans already produced on this factory.
- The new model will be equipped with a 2 litres capacity diesel engines, developing 190ch, and of an four wheels transmission. The carmaker does not envisage electrified versions for the moment.
- The Santa Cruz will be exclusively marketed in North America, where the pickup market remains relatively important (18% of the market in the US including 3% for the mid-range pickup category).
- Its competitors will be the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Nissan Frontier and Honda Ridgeline. Hyundai has to first of all have construct a brand image in the pickup market, because it is a totally new market. Volkswagen has also announced plans to launch a mid-range pickup in 2021.
Contact us: info@inovev.com
Read more... Hyundai confirms the production of its pickup in the USA in 2021
Inovev platforms >