Category Blog

詳細: 上で公開 2021年07月07日

MG sold 3,000 units of the HS model in the first 4 months of 2021

- After entering the European market with its battery electric B-segment SUV, the ZS, sold at 16,000 units in 2020, the Chinese carmaker MG (former British brand bought by Nanjing in 2005 and then integrated into the SAIC group in 2007) is expanding step by step its electrified product range. MG is introducing now a C-segment plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV, still with that selling price advantage that allows a model to be sold at the lower segment price.

- This model named HS had quietly started its career last year in Europe and only 3,000 units were sold there. In 2021, sales of this model have increased significantly, representing 3,000 sales over the total of the first four months, ie as much as over the whole of 2020. The carmaker expects a volume of 10,000 sales in 2021, which should be added to the 20,000 sales of ZS expected this year. In total, the MG brand is therefore expected to sell 30,000 cars in 2021 in Europe, but there are plans to add new models that should increase this sales volume.

- The MG brand appears to be the most dynamic Chinese brand in Europe, as it sets sales volume objective that no longer marginal. In terms of sales in Europe, this Chinese brand is in 2021 selling more than Honda, Lancia, Lexus, Jaguar, Smart, DS, Alfa-Romeo and Subaru.

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続きを読む... MG sold 3,000 units of the HS model in the first 4 months of 2021

詳細: 上で公開 2021年07月07日

The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are the last US sedans produced in the NAFTA zone

- After production of the Chevrolet Malibu ceased in February 2021 in the United States (this model was the last American brand sedan produced in this country), the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are now the last American brand sedans still produced in the NAFTA zone (Canada, Mexico, USA).

- In few years, the entire range of General-Motors and Ford groups sedans was stopped in North America, leaving the market open to SUVs and pick-ups, but above all leaving the market open to Japanese and Korean sedans, without even talk about European sedans which are more in the category of Premium cars. Even the Premium US brands, like Cadillac and Lincoln, have given up on European sedans. And plans for future Buick sedans have been dropped. Only SUVs remain at Cadillac, Buick and Lincoln.

- Without judging this strategy, it is now confirmed that the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger (at the end of their career) are today the only American-branded sedans still in production in North America.

- Will these sedans disappeared also? According to Carlos Tavares, managing director of the Stellantis group (owner of the Chrysler and Dodge brands), these two models should have a replacement program, but it is still unclear whether they will be real sedans like today or crossovers (between sedan and SUV) like the recent Ford Evos which replaces the Mondeo and Fusion sedans.

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続きを読む... The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are the last US sedans produced in the NAFTA zone

詳細: 上で公開 2021年07月07日

Opel unveils new Movano utility vehicle

- Opel has just unveiled the third generation of its Movano utility, which is in the N1-3 category, while the Vivaro is in the N1-2 category and the Combo in the N1-1 category. These categories correspond to the dimensions of the vehicles, but above all to the transport capacity. Previously based on the Renault Master, the new utility vehicle of the German brand belonging to the Stellantis group since 2017 had to swap this body for the same as the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper. Only the front part makes it possible to differentiate the different models within the Stellantis group.

- As a result, this new generation of Opel Movano is available not only with a diesel engine (this type of engine remains largely the majority on this type of vehicle), but as a battery electric vehicle, like the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper. It will thus be offered with 2.2-liter diesel engines (120 to 165 hp). The electric version, intended primarily for deliveries in urban areas, will offer a maximum range of 117 or 225 kilometres depending on the battery size (37 kWh or 70 kWh).

- The characteristics of the Opel Movano are the same as those of the other models of the Stellantis group, and its production is expected to be carried out at the Italian plant of Val di Sangro, such as the Ducato, Boxer and Jumper. Its production could reach 25,000 units per year.

- It will be offered in four lengths (L1 to L4) and three heights (H1 to H3), with a maximum loading volume ranging from 8 to 17 m3, and loads of up to 2 tonnes.

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続きを読む... Opel unveils new Movano utility vehicle

詳細: 上で公開 2021年07月07日

The Hyundai-Kia group launches its Genesis brand in Europe

- The Hyundai-Kia group has decided to launch Genesis, its Premium brand on the European market, whereas until now this Premium brand was only available in the United States, Canada, Korea, the Middle East, Australia and in Russia. Genesis intends to become valuable in this category, just like Japanese brands like Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, and of course traditional European brands like Mercedes, BMW and Audi.

- The challenge will be difficult because it is not easy to impose a new Premium brand on a market as competitive as the European market where these historical brands have been well established for several decades. Infiniti (Nissan's Premium brand) failed in this attempt, surely because this firm has failed to differentiate itself clearly from its competitors, either in terms of design or in terms of technologies. Tesla and Lexus have imposed themselves against the Europeans brands thanks to their technological differentiation, the hybrid for Lexus and the battery electric technology for Tesla.

- Infiniti did not brought added value also compared to Lexus and Tesla. As for Acura (Honda's Premium brand), Honda preferred to never proposed it in Europe. Genesis is going to have to bring something new, and at the moment it's not clear what it could bring. Its current lineup consists of traditional sedans, like the G70, G80 and G90 of different sizes, and classic SUVs, like the GV70 and GV80. The brand's global production did not exceed 137,000 units in 2020, compared to 74,000 in 2019, far from the figures reached by Lexus (720,000), Tesla (500,000) and the European Premium brands.

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続きを読む... The Hyundai-Kia group launches its Genesis brand in Europe

詳細: 上で公開 2021年07月07日

Production

Over 4 months 2021, global production is nearly 15% lower compared to 2019

- The volume of global automobile production (PC + LUV) increased by 30.7% in the first four months of 2021, compared to the first four months of 2020. But this period of last year had been severely hampered by various plant closures around the world, as a result of the coronavirus crisis (Covid-19). This comparison is therefore irrelevant, and this is the reason why it is preferable to establish a comparison with the first four months of 2019. This comparison thus shows a negative difference of 14.4% in 2021 compared to 2019.

- This means that the volume of world automobile production in the first quarter of 2021 is nearly 15% lower than that of the first quarter of 2019. This drop in production can be attributed to the problem of semiconductors supply, because many plants had to shut down, but we can also conclude that demand has fallen slightly compared to 2019.

- This gap is also higher than the global sales (-4.5%) one, which means that the start of 2019 was marked by the increase in stocks for a year which represented 89.4 million units sold and marked the fourth best year of the decade. It can also be assumed that stocks are now declining.

- By country, China keeps its leading position, in the first quarter of 2021, with 31% of the global production, ahead of Europe (19%), the United States (12%), Japan (12%), India (6%) and South Korea (5%).