Audi unveils the next generation of its A6 sedan
At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, Audi unveils the new generation of the A6 (E-segment) sedan, replacing the one launched in 2011. This model retains the old-generation silhouette and the MLB platform shared with the Audi A4, A5 and A7. The Audi A6 is traditionally the direct rival of Mercedes E-Class and BMW 5 Series, but also Volvo S90 / V90 and Jaguar XF.

The Audi A6 is manufactured in two countries, Germany (Neckarsulm) and China (Changchun). Production in China is sold locally, while production in Germany is destined for the whole world. Germany's exports to China have been steadily declining over the last fifteen years, as China's production expanded and became saturated. Thus, in 2017, no more Audi A6 were exported from Germany to China, while the Chinese factory has manufactured 150 000 units (vs 50 000 in 2005) and that the German factory has manufactured 100,000 units (vs 200,000 in 2005). The global production volume of the Audi A6 (Germany + China) remained the same in 2017 compared to 2005: 250,000 units. It is the production per plant that is different. Inovev expects production of 300,000 units a year of the new model, including 150,000 in China and 150,000 in Germany.

The new Audi A6 is powered by 4-cylinder 2.0 (252hp) and V6 3.0 (335hp) petrol engines, as well as 4-cylinder 2.0 (201hp) and V6 3.0 (228hp and 286hp) diesel engines with 48V mild hybrid technology. A plug-in hybrid engine will be added in 2019.


18-06-10   
 

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Future Renault-Nissan small SUVs will be built on the same platform
Nissan will indeed stop the NV 200 minivan in Europe before 2020. The Renault-Nissan group has just confirmed that their light commercial vehicles will now be designed on a single platform, which will produce a variety of silhouettes and brands at the lowest possible cost. This is already the method used at PSA for the new Citroën Berlingo, Peugeot Partner and Opel Combo, all of which have the same platform, the same engines and slightly different silhouettes.

The first model to be marketed on this new Renault-Nissan platform will be the Renault Kangoo (launch scheduled for the end of 2019), which will be followed by identical models at Dacia (the future Dokker), at Lada (a future LCV), at Nissan (the future NV200), Mitsubishi (a future LCV) and Mercedes (the future Citan). The aim of the Franco-Japanese group is to increase its market share in the field of LCVs, particularly in Europe.

Nissan has already marketed a rebadged version of the Renault Kangoo called Kubistar between 2003 to 2009 which did not meet the manufacturer's sales targets. Nissan NV200 replaced the Kubistar in 2009. Today, the Franco-Japanese group returns to the original strategy, without it being clear for the moment what will be the differentiating features of Nissan LCVs versus the numerous and well-established competitors.


18-06-8   
 

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PSA Group 2017 Global Market Report
The PSA group (Peugeot, Citroën, DS and since August 1, 2017 Opel, Vauxhall) has published its sales figures for the year 2017. Global sales amounted to 3.63 million vehicles if we include Opel-Vauxhall since August 1, 2017, a 15% increase compared to 2016. This increase is one of the largest recorded among the top 10 global manufacturers, but like the Renault-Nissan group, it is mainly due to external growth (acquisition of external brands). Note that in 2018, the growth of the PSA group will continue to be significant, as Opel-Vauxhall sales will be counted for PSA for the whole year which was not the case for the first 7 months of  2017.

PSA group's global sales in 2017 break down as follows:

1. Europe remains by far its largest market, with 2.38 million vehicles, or 66% of its global sales.
2. Iran becomes its second largest market, with 443,000 vehicles, or 12% of its global sales.
3. China is its third largest market, with 387,000 vehicles, or 11% of its global sales.
4. South America is its fourth largest market, with 206,000 vehicles, or 6% of global sales.

These four markets make up 95% of PSA group's global sales in 2017, divided into 2.12 million Peugeot vehicles, 1.06 million Citroën vehicles, 0.4 million Opel vehicles and 0.05 million DS vehicles


18-06-6   
 

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European exports reached 5.6 million vehicles in 2017
European Union automotive exports to outside Europe reached 5.6 million vehicles in 2017 out of a total of 19 million manufactured units,  i.e. 30% of automotive production and an increase of 2.3% compared to 2016.

While the volume of European exports has increased as much as the growth of the world car market (+ 2.3%), growth is not the same for each of the top five countries to which these vehicles are exported, namely the USA (1, 15 million units, -2%), China (566,000 units, + 7%), Turkey (512,000 units, -10%), Switzerland (267,000 units, -4%) or Nigeria ( 240,000 units, + 154%).

These five countries account for 2.735 million units exported, or half of European exports, while a hundred other countries account for the other half. Russia, which was once included in the Top 5, has gradually fallen to 100,000 units in 2017 compared to 275,000 in 2014, 500,000 in 2013 and even 700,000 in 2008.

European production for the various European Union countries amounts to 13.4 million vehicles, a large part of which is the result of intra-European flows, that is exports from a European country to another European country. Taking into account intra-European vehicle flows, Inovev estimates this volume at around 10 million vehicles, which are exported from one European country to another European country. 


18-06-9   
 

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According to Inovev, new generation V60 production will reach 100,000 units
At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, Volvo is presenting the new generation of the V60 station wagon replacing the one introduced in 2010 (the new generation of the S60 sedan should be presented at the Paris Motor Show in 2018). The new V60 (D-segment) is based on the SPA platform shared with the Volvo XC60, XC90 and S90 / V90. This is the modular platform dedicated to  Volvo D and E segments. Volvo unveils  the V60 estate before the S60 sedan, as the estate version is traditionally twice as expensive as the sedan version, Volvo being a big estate producer since the 1960s. The V60 rivals the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class and Audi A4 estate, that is to say the premium D segment estate market.

S60 / V60 production peaked in 2015 (135,000 units) and has declined steadily since then (115,000 units in 2017). It is interesting to note that the production of the V60 which was made in Göteborg in Sweden was switched to Gent in Belgium during the year 2017, while the SUV XC60 was transferred from Gent to Gothenburg. The new generation of the V60 is likely to be produced in Gent, at a rate of 100,000 units per year, according to Inovev, to which should be added 50,000 units per year of the S60 sedan. Both models could also be manufactured in China.

The Volvo V60 will be powered by T4 2.0 (190hp), T5 2.0 (254hp) gasoline engines, T6 hybrid engines (300hp) and D3 2.0 (150hp) and D4 2.0 (190hp) diesel engines.


18-06-7   
 

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