2018 European Automotive Production Evolution by Country
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2018 European Automotive Production Evolution by Country
- European automotive production (PC+LCV ) in the 29 countries + Turkey, fell by 2.7% in 2018, to 19.41 million units from 19.95 million in 2017.
- Among the top eight producing countries in Europe, Germany was the most impacted by this decline in European production, losing 9% compared to 2017. This drop is explained by the fact that some German OEMs have been handicapped by the upgrading of their models to the new WLTP standards, while others‘ exports declined, particularly to the United States and China.
- Spain remains in second place, well ahead of France, while these two countries remain buoyant, up 2% and 4% respectively. Great Britain ‘s production dropped (-9%), due to the uncertainties related to the implementation of Brexit. Turkey follows close behind, despite losing 8% compared to 2017, mainly due to a depressed domestic market.
- In sixth place, the Czech Republic is stable (+0.2%), mainly due to its saturated production capacities. That is why Skoda will build a factory to increase its capacity. The Czech Republic is ahead of Italy and Slovakia, which are at the same level of production, but while Italy has lost 5%, Slovakia has increased by 7.5%.
- The other producing countries achieve lower volumes, they are in descending order, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Slovenia, Austria, the Netherlands and Finland.
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Eastern European countries account for 22% of EU production in 2018
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Eastern European countries account for 22% of EU production in 2018
- Eastern European countries continue to increase their influence within the European Union:
1. In terms of registrations, they account for 9% of all registrations (PC + LCVs) in the European Union in 2018 compared to 7% in 2015 and 6% in 2010. This is the highest rate since these countries joined the European Union. They should soon reach 10% of European registrations in the medium term, as their motorization rate remains lower than that of Western European countries.
2. In terms of production, these countries make up 22% of the European Union's total production (PC+LCVs) in 2018, compared to 20% in 2015 and 10% in 2005. This is also the highest rate since these countries joined the European Union. This rate is much higher than the registration rate, as Eastern European countries export many more vehicles than they import.
- Western European OEMs have indeed relocated a lot to Eastern European countries over the past fifteen years. These include the Renault Clio, Renault Twingo, Peugeot 208 and Citroën C3. In addition, there were manufacturers who were not present in Europe, such as Hyundai and Kia, who started production in Eastern Europe. Finally, a range of new models has been developed in this region: Dacia, Seat and Skoda SUVs, Toyota-PSA segment A, VW-Seat-Skoda segment A, the Ford Ecosport and the Smart Forfour in particular.
- The transfer of all Renault Clio and Peugeot 208 cars to Eastern Europe will amplify this phenomenon in 2019.
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Smart's future depends upon China
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Smart's future depends upon China
- The Daimler and Geely groups have announced the creation of a 50/50% owned JV between the two manufacturers to develop the Smart brand in China. This development will involve the transfer in 2022 of the Smart Fortwo's production from the French Hambach plant to a Chinese plant owned by Geely. The new generation of the Fortwo will be launched at the same time. It will be 100% electric. Geely believes that the sales potential of electric cars, even small cars, is much greater in China than in Europe, which explains the transfer of Smart production.
- However, the future of the French Hambach plant will be ensured by the manufacture of various electric models of the Mercedes brand (and no longer the Smart brand), which should be launched from 2021 onwards.
- However, the future of the Smart Forfour currently produced in the Slovenian Novo Mesto plant, alongside the Renault Twingo, is not defined, and this could put an end to the agreement between Renault and Mercedes in the small car sector.
- Scheduled for a production of 250,000 units per year, the Smart Fortwo has never exceeded 150,000 units per year, most of which are sold in Europe. As for the Forfour version, it has never exceeded 50,000 units per year, whereas the manufacturer expected twice as many. Smart's worldwide sales peak was reached in 2016 with 144,000 units. In 2017, Smart sales fell to 136,000 units, then 130,000 units in 2018. In China, Smart sales went from 19,286 units in 2016 to 23,381 units in 2017 to 21,229 units in 2018, all imported from Europe.
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What would be the advantages of a merger between PSA and FCA?
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What would be the advantages of a merger between PSA and FCA?
- There are rumors of a possible merger between the PSA and FCA groups. What would be the advantages of such a rapprochement?
- First, a larger scale use of PSA platforms and engines (because FCA platforms are old), would be a clear advantage, since the two groups produced a total of nearly 9 million vehicles in 2018 (4.9 million for FCA and 3.9 million for PSA), compared to 7 million in 2010. These are two growing groups, notably through the acquisition of Chrysler/Jeep by Fiat and Opel/Vauxhall by PSA. With such volume, this association would become the 4th largest manufacturer in the world behind the Volkswagen, Renault-Nissan and Toyota groups.
- Secondly, geographically speaking, the two automakers are quite complementary, since the PSA group makes 80% of its sales in Europe while the FCA group makes 55% of its sales in North America. On the other hand, they are both quite weak in the world's largest market, China, as well as in other major markets such as Japan, Korea and Russia.
- At the range level, the complementarity is quite obvious, since the FCA group has a large number of SUVs and pick-ups, which account for 57% of its worldwide sales, while the PSA group has a large number of sedans, which make up 51% of its worldwide sales. The PSA group also sells more commercial vehicles than the FCA group. It should also be noted that PSA sells certain commercial vehicles resulting from a collaboration with Fiat (Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Jumper).
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Inovev forecasts 200,000 new Ford Kugas per year
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Inovev forecasts 200,000 new Ford Kugas per year
- Ford unveiled the new generation of the Kuga (C segment ) SUV just a few weeks after the Geneva Motor Show, where the manufacturer was not present. The new Kuga is 9cm longer and 4cm wider than the old generation launched in 2012. Its length is therefore 4.61m and its width 1.88m. Its fluid design is inspired by the new Focus launched last year, and it uses the Focus platform and some of its engines.
- The new Kuga, which will be available as of autumn 2019, will be the only model produced at the Valencia site in Spain next year, as Ford has announced the transfer of the Transit Connect to Mexico and the elimination without replacement of the Mondeo, Galaxy and S-Max currently produced in Valencia.
- The Ford Kuga will continue to compete with the C-segment SUVs of generalist brands such as Renault Kadjar, Peugeot 3008, Citroën C5 Aircross, Opel Grandland, Volkswagen Tiguan, Skoda Karoq, Seat Ateca, Nissan Qashqai, Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage...
- The engines of the new Ford Kuga are: a 1.5 lturbopetrol of 119 hp and 148 hp, a 1.5l turbo diesel of 119 hp, a 2.0l turbo diesel of 178 hp, then from 2020, a 2.5l hybrid petrol of 223 hp and a rechargeable hybrid 2.5l petrol of 223 hp. No 100% electric motorization is planned over the next three years.
- Inovev estimates that 200,000 units per year of the new Ford Kuga will be produced in Spain.
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