Ford postpones the launch of its new electric SUVs by two years
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Ford postpones the launch of its new electric SUVs by two years
- After having postponed for one year the launch in Europe of its battery electric SUV called Explorer, the American carmaker Ford announced that it was postponing for two years the launch in North America of its new battery electric SUVs of which we do not know not yet the name.
- These SUVs should take over the Volkswagen ID3/ID4 platform – as for the Explorer BEV – following an agreement between the two carmakers (in exchange, Ford provides the base of the Ranger pick-up to make the pick-up VW Amarok). These two new battery electric models were supposed to be launched on the North American market in 2025. They will finally be launched in 2027.
- We could deduce from this that Ford does not believe much in the development of electric vehicles in North America (the market share of BEVs should not exceed 8% of the US market in 2024) but the carmaker has indicated that it intends to take advantage of the latest technologies related to batteries and wait for further progress on these products to offer an optimal proposition to customers. Another explanation would be that Ford would not be entirely satisfied with the Volkswagen platform, because the American carmaker has indicated that a design team located in California was designing a completely new, smaller and lower cost electric platform, therefore more cost-effective and more flexible, capable of equipping multiple models with high volumes.
- As a result of the postponement of the launch in North America of the two battery electric SUVs, the Canadian plant in Oakville (Ontario), which was planning to produce them from 2025, will have to continue assembling the Ford Edge and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs (with a thermal engine) for another three years, although it was planned to stop them. The launch of these models dates back to 2015.
The Dodge Charger inaugurates the STLA-Large platform from Stellantis
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The Dodge Charger inaugurates the STLA-Large platform from Stellantis
- The Dodge Charger is the first model from the Stellantis group to be based on the new STLA-Large platform, that is to say the one intended for the group's large cars (sedans, SUVs, coupes of the E-segment).
- The first Dodge Charger was born in 1966 as a coupe with a combustion engine. This model from the Chrysler group entered into direct competition with the Ford Mustang (1964) from the Ford group and the Chevrolet Camaro (1966) from the GM group which were the first “Pony Cars”, compact sports coupes based on mass-produced platforms. Several generations of Charger have followed one another since 1966, in the form of coupes and sedans.
- The first battery electric Dodge Charger is presented in March 2024, with a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan. Two powers are offered: 496 hp (365 kW) and 670 hp (493 kW) in four-wheel drive version. The battery offers a capacity of 100 kWh allowing a range of approximately 500 km. The weight of the Charger EV reaches 2,650 kilos.
- Next year, two versions of the Dodge Charger with a combustion engine will be marketed. They will be equipped with a 3.0-liter six-cylinder twin-turbo gasoline engine developing a choice of 420 hp (310 kW) or 550 hp (405 kW). The four-door version will be launched in the first quarter of 2025. The two-door and four-door are 5.24 m long.
- All Dodge Chargers will be produced in the Canadian plant in Brampton (Ontario) at a rate of 100,000 units per year according to Inovev. Battery electric versions should represent 10% of the total in 2026, 15% in 2028 and 20% in 2030.
The Chinese carmaker Chery creates new brands
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The Chinese carmaker Chery creates new brands
- The Chinese carmaker Chery has experienced a strong growth over the past two years, becoming the fourth carmaker in China (excluding JV) in 2022. Stimulated by its successes in China, but also in Russia, Turkey and Italy, three countries in which Chery has become the leading Chinese brand in terms of sales, Chery has created new brands to further extend its influence in China and abroad. Thus, the Omoda, Jaecoo, Luxeed and Icar brands were created in 2022 and 2023, in addition to Chery's traditional brands, such as Jetour, Exeed, Riich, Karry and Yibin Kaiyi.
- Omoda is a luxury brand created in 2022 only available outside China. Chery said the Omoda brand would be a “valid alternative” to Japanese and German brands that have suspended operations in Russia. In 2023, 45,000 Omoda were sold in Russia. Figures for 2024 are not yet available.
- Jaecoo is a brand created in 2023 only available outside China. It produces SUVs based on Chery SUVs but with a more premium position. In 2023, 4,500 Jaecoos were sold in Russia. Figures for 2024 are not yet available.
- Luxeed was created at the end of 2023 in partnership with smartphone producer Huawei to launch a new range of battery electric vehicles. The first model resulting from this partnership is the Luxeed S7, a large battery electric sedan which intends to compete with the Tesla Model S in the electric premium sedan segment. 700 are sold per month in China. No exports at the moment.
- ICar, which was created in 2023, is a battery electric vehicle brand targeting young Chinese customers. 1,000 are sold per month in China. No exports at the moment.
Chery announces it will produce cars in Spain
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Chery announces it will produce cars in Spain
- The Chinese carmaker Chery, which is one of the most dynamic Chinese carmakers outside China these two last years (see previous slide relating to the new brands created by Chery) after a slump of several years, could produce battery electric vehicles ( BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) in Europe before the end of this year.
- This carmaker already assemble CKD (Complete Knock Down) cars in Italy in plant belonging to DR and producing models under the same brand, but this will be the first time that it will produce vehicles in Europe under its own name.
- Chery is the third Chinese carmaker to announce its interest in setting up industrially in Europe, after BYD and SAIC (MG). BYD has decided to build a factory in Hungary (this carmaker already has an electric bus factory in this country). SAIC (MG) has not yet chosen the location of its factory. Chery (fourth Chinese carmaker by production volume, behind BYD, Geely and Changan) has decided to establish itself industrially in Spain.
- Chery plans to take over the Nissan Barcelona plant, closed in December 2021 and would thus avoid building a new factory, which could take one to two years. This site has several advantages: it is functional, is located on the edge of the Mediterranean and therefore can import and export automobiles in large numbers by sea. By producing in Europe, Chery would also avoid local measures encouraging the removal of ecological bonuses for cars produced in China.
Beijing Motor Show 2024: The most important auto event in the world ?
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Beijing Motor Show 2024: The most important auto event in the world ?
- The Beijing Motor Show takes place from April 25 to May 4, 2024. This show takes place every two years alternating with Shanghai. The Beijing Motor Show did not take place in 2020 or 2022 due to the coronavirus crisis but it will return in force in 2024. This show is not only important for Beijing, but also for the entire China, as it serves as a platform to showcase Chinese advancements in automotive technology and as a meeting place for international cooperation.
- In 2018, 900,000 visitors attended the Beijing Auto Show. Many new products should be exhibited at the 2024 edition and it is impossible to list them all here because there are more than 150 Chinese brands, around a hundred of which have been created over the last two years and all the new products which will be presented at the show are not yet known. We can just give an overview of the new products that have already been announced.
- Changan: Changan, CATL and the smartphone carmaker Huawei have joined forces to create the Avatr 12, a new BEV, a high-end sedan which completes the Avatr range currently made up of the SUV 11.
- BMW: BMW presents the Neue Klasse SUV, a BEV concept car which announces the design of future BMW SUVs.
- BYD: the BEV and PHEV carmaker wants to invest in the pick-up market with this BEV or PHEV model.
- Great Wall: Within Great Wall, Ora is the brand of BEV while Wey is the brand of plug-in hybrid cars (PHEV). It will display The Ora 07 is a 4.87 m long E-segment luxury sedan, already displayed in Paris.
- Mercedes: the German carmaker presents
§ the EQG, a battery electric version of the Mercedes G-Class SUV,
§ the production version of the electric CLA, the concept car was unveiled at the Munich Motor Show in September 2023.
§ the facelifted EQS: the limousine should already receive a restyling after only two years of service.
- Mini: the production version of the Aceman will be presented in Beijing. This model will be produced in China before also being produced in Europe in 2026.
- Fangcheng: this brand from the BYD group presents the BAO 8, a large plug-in hybrid SUV measuring 5 meters in length.
- Baojun: the Yep Plus, a small 2-door SUV, 3.40 m long, is transformed this year into a 4-door SUV, 4.00 m long.
- Changan: the Qiyuan NEVO A05 / Q05, a sedan and SUV equipped with a 1.5 liter and an electric motor (PHEV).
- Luxeed: the S7, a large battery electric sedan resulting from a partnership between Chery and Huawei which intends to compete with the Tesla Model S in the electric luxury sedan segment.
- Smart: the #5 completes the Smart range in the upper segments with an SUV the size of a VW Tiguan (4.54 m). The 66 kWh battery powering a 268 hp front-mounted electric motor is the same as #1 and #2.
- Zeekr: Geely is launching a battery electric hatchback minivan, the Mix, under the luxury brand Zeekr, competing with the VW ID Buzz equipped with an 86 kWh battery.
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