Inovev forecasts 150,000 units per year of the new Skoda Fabia
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Inovev forecasts 150,000 units per year of the new Skoda Fabia
- Czech firm Skoda has unveiled the new generation of its B-segment sedan, the Fabia. This model, based on the MQB-A platform, like the Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza and Audi A1, has suffered an erosion of its sales for several years, in particular due to the growing competition from B-segment SUVs, like the Skoda Kamiq or the Volkswagen T-Cross. Production of the Fabia, which peaked at 250,000 units in 2008, gradually fell to 200,000 units in 2011, then 150,000 in 2019 and 100,000 in 2020.
- The new model to be marketed in January 2022 intends to compete with European B-segment mainstream cars, such as the Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza, Ford Fiesta, Opel Corsa, Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, Citroën C3, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra, Hyundai i20 and Kia Rio mainly. With the end of the Skoda Citigo, the Fabia becomes the smallest and cheapest model in the Czech carmaker's lineup. The length of the car does not exceed 4.10 m.
- Skoda keeps petrol engines on the Fabia: a 1.0 TSI and a 1.5 TSI, but has given up on diesel, like most carmakers in this segment. No battery electric version either, as this technology will be dedicated to future Skoda versions derived from Volkswagen ID 1 and ID 2 scheduled for 2025.
- Inovev expects 150,000 units per year of the new Fabia, production being carried out at the Czech plant of Mlada Boleslav as before.
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続きを読む... Inovev forecasts 150,000 units per year of the new Skoda Fabia
The BMW 6 Series does not meet the carmaker's sales objectives
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The BMW 6 Series does not meet the carmaker's sales objectives
- The BMW 6 Series launched at the end of 2018 has completely changed its positioning compared to the older generation, whose origins date back to 2011. It is no longer a sporty model, available as a coupe, convertible and sedan (Gran Coupe) but rather the successor of the 5 Series GT, meaning a family sedan, with five doors and six side windows, derived from the four-door Series 5 sedan. So this intermediate model between the 5 Series sedan and the 5 Series station wagon did not convince more than the previous 5 Series GT with five doors.
- The peak of sales was reached in January and February 2019, with just over 2,500 units per month, or an annual rate of around 25,000 units, but sales collapsed in March 2019. They fell from 2 300 units in March 2019 to 1,650 in June 2019, 1,200 in December 2019, then less than 1,000 units per month in 2020. Without taking into account the month when the plants were closed, in April 2020 (due to the coronavirus), the sales rate for the 6 Series GT was around 600 units per month, i.e. an annual rate of around 7,000 units, far from the 25,000 expected at the start of 2019.
- In 2021, the 6 Series GT does not improve its scores, the monthly pace being rather below 500 sales, and it is evident that the continuity of this model is not sure with such a low sales volume.
- By comparison, the 8 Series, which takes the philosophy of the old 6 Series (coupe, convertible, low sedan), shows a sales rate of 3,000 units per month in 2021, slightly higher than what was recorded in 2020.
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続きを読む... The BMW 6 Series does not meet the carmaker's sales objectives
The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are the last US sedans produced in the NAFTA zone
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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
MG sold 3,000 units of the HS model in the first 4 months of 2021
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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
The Hyundai-Kia group launches its Genesis brand in Europe
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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