Do vehicles marketed by smartphone companies have a future?
- 詳細
Do vehicles marketed by smartphone companies have a future?
- Chinese smartphone makers, such as Huawei and Xiaomi, have started investing in the automotive sector. Their expertise in high-technologies and experience manufacturing consumer products could potentially give them a competitive advantage in the automotive sector. However, it is important to note that the automotive industry is very complex and competitive, with many established players and strict regulations to follow. Traditional carmakers have a long history, technical expertise and well-established manufacturing infrastructure, giving them a significant competitive advantage. Also the trend is for smartphone producers to create a strong partnership with an existing automobile carmaker rather than creating a new vehicle on their own. The smartphone company Huawei thus made a partnership in 2021 with the carmaker Seres. Together they developed the range of AITO models (see below). In February 2023, Huawei and Seres further strengthened their alliance by signing a new contract to develop a new flagship BEV vehicle. The objective is to produce one million vehicles by 2026.
- For its part, the smartphone company Xiaomi, after exploring the route of building a vehicle on its own (SU7 – see photo below), sought to establish an association with an automobile carmaker. Production of the Xiaomi SU7 will initially be carried out at BAIC.
- For the moment, we can only observe the evolution of sales of AITO, the only brand linked to a Chinese smartphone carmaker (Huawei) currently in activity, before the arrival of Xiaomi. Produced by the Seres group (formerly Sokon), AITOs increased from 78,000 sales in China in 2022 to 104,000 in 2023 and potentially more than 300,000 in 2024 (59,000 sales over 2 months 2024). But at the same time, sales of Seres brand models fell from 109,000 in 2022 to 68,000 in 2023 and potentially less than 100,000 in 2024 (15,000 sales over 2 months 2024). It thus seems that the AITO brand has replaced the Seres brand and that it is starting to take market share to the competition from 2024. The sales potential in 2024 for the AITO and Seres brands reaches 400,000 sales, or 2.3 times the cumulative volume of 2023 and 2.1 times the cumulative volume of 2022. In 2021, the AITO brand did not yet exist and neither did the Seres brand.
The BEV 2024-2026 product plan from Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis
- 詳細
The BEV 2024-2026 product plan from Volkswagen, Renault and Stellantis
Here is the 2024-2026 product plan (vehicles not yet launched and will be between 2024 and 2026) for “battery electric vehicles” marketed in Europe for the three major European carmakers according to Inovev. Launches will need to be confirmed over the coming months.
1. Volkswagen:
- 2024: Audi Q6 E-Tron, Porsche Macan EV
- 2025: Audi A6 E-Tron, Porsche Boxster/Cayman EV, VW ID2, Skoda ID2, Audi A2 E-Tron, CupraAteca, CupraRaval
- 2026: Audi A3 E-Tron, Porsche Cayenne EV
2. Stellantis:
- 2024: Citroën e-C3, Peugeot e-3008, Peugeot e-5008, Opel e-Grandland, Opel e-Manta, Fiat Panda-e, Alfa Milano-, Lancia Ypsilon-e
- 2025: Citroën e-C3 X, Opel e-Frontera, DS 3 E-Tense, Lancia Delta e, DS7 E-Tense
- 2026: Citroën C5 Aircross E-Tense, Opel e-Corsa, Peugeot e-208, Peugeot e-2008, DS8 E-Tense
3. Renault:
- 2024: Renault 5 E-Tech, Renault 4 E-Tech, Renault Scénic E-Tech, Alpine A290
- 2025: Alpine A410
- 2026: Alpine A110, Renault Twingo E-Tech
Inovev forecasts 60,000 units per year of the new Peugeot 5008 SUV
- 詳細
Inovev forecasts 60,000 units per year of the new Peugeot 5008 SUV
- A few months after the presentation of the third generation of the Peugeot 3008 SUV (code P64), Stellantis unveils the third generation of the Peugeot 5008 (code P74) which is derived from it. While the 3008 is a vehicle that can carry five passengers, the 5008 can carry seven. The difference between the two models is in terms of dimensions (+14 cm in length, +4 cm in width, +5 cm in height and +6 cm in wheelbase). The new 5008 therefore measures 4.79 m long, 1.89 m wide, 1.69 m high and 2.90 m wheelbase. The STLA Medium platform is the same as for the recent 3008. The new 5008 will be available for the first time in a battery electric version and will be added to the 5008 thermal range which will continue.
- The range of internal combustion engines is as follows: a 1.2-liter 48V mild-hybrid (MHEV) petrol engine with 136 hp (100 kW) and a 1.6-liter petrol plug-in hybrid (PHEV) engine with 195 hp (145 kW). For the 100% electric engines, three versions will be offered: one with 210 hp (155 kW) and a 73 kWh battery for a range of 500 km according to the WLTP cycle, a four-wheel drive version with 320 hp (235 kW) and a Long Range two-wheel drive version with 230 hp (170 kW) and a 98 kWh battery for a range of 660 km.
- The Peugeot 5008, which competes with the Renault Espace, Skoda Kodiaq and Skoda Enyaq, today represents the largest Stellantis model equipped with the STLA Medium platform. It will have no equivalent at Citroën, Opel or Fiat. It will be produced on the Sochaux plant (France) alongside the 3008, at a rate of 60,000 units per year according to Inovev.
American startups have difficulties to achieve their goals
- 詳細
American startups have difficulties to achieve their goals
The American star-ups American producing battery electric cars are all experiencing significant financial difficulties today due to sales that are far too low compared to their expectations.
1. Fisker: the Californian carmaker which would like to be Tesla's rival would have delivered only 5,000 battery electric cars for a production of 10,000 units. Fisker, which is facing difficulties to find new investors, plans to lay off 15% of its workforce.The company's salvation could come through a partnership with a large carmaker. But so far, none have come forward.Fiskerhopes to be able to sell 20,000 battery electric cars worldwide in 2024.
2. Lucid:the American carmaker which markets the Air sedan is also experiencing financial difficulties, having overestimated its sales potential in a Amercian BEV market which is less dynamic than expected and which is plagued by a price war initiated in particular by Tesla and Chinese carmakers. Lucid sold 6,000 battery electric cars in 2023 while the carmaker initially expected 20,000 units. Lucid has decided to lay off 18% of its workforce (i.e. 1,300 people). The carmaker hopes to be able to sell 10,000 battery electric cars worldwide in 2024.
3. Rivian:Like Fisker and Lucid, the carmaker Rivian is experiencing significant financial difficulties. Despite the sale of 50,000 battery electric cars in 2023, Rivian has incurred a lot of debt due to an overestimated market and is revising its forecasts downward for 2024, i.e. 50,000 global sales expected, compared to 100,000 initially forecasted.
Inovev forecasts 50,000 units per year of the new Audi Q6 E-Tron SUV in Europe
- 詳細
Inovev forecasts 50,000 units per year of the new Audi Q6 E-Tron SUV in Europe
- After several successive postponements, Audi officially presented its new battery electric D-segment SUV named Q6 E-Tron. It fits into the carmaker's range as its name indicates between the Q4 E-Tron and the Q8 E-Tron. This is the third battery electric SUV from the Audi brand before the launch in a few months of a new battery electric sedan, the A6 E-Tron E-segment sedan.
- The new Q6 E-Tron shares its platform (PPE) with the battery electric Porsche Macan presented just a few weeks ago. The Q6 E-Tron measures 4.77 m long (a thermal Q5 measures 4.66 m), weighs 2.35 tonnes (a thermal Q5 weighs 1.8 tonnes) and will be marketed at a price above 85,000 euros. It seems that Audi has not yet decided to market battery electric vehicles at affordable prices and reasonable weights.
- The Audi Q6 E-Tron competes with the Tesla Model Y, BMW iX3, Porsche Macan EV and Mercedes EQC which has just disappeared due to lack of sales. The Mercedes EQE SUV could therefore be opposed to it but it is positioned in a higher segment (E-segment).
- The electric motor of the Q6 E-Tron in its four-wheel drive version delivers 387 hp (285 kW) or 517 hp (380 kW), coupled to a 100 kWh battery, which allows a range of 600 km according to the WLTP cycle. A less powerful two-wheel drive version will be marketed later with an 83 kWh battery allowing a range of 500 km.
- The Audi Q6 E-Tron will be produced in Ingolstadt (Germany) at 50,000 units per year according to Inovev. It is possible that this model is also produced in China for local demand.