European plants operated at 58% capacity in 2022
- European car plants (including Turkey) operated at 58% of their capacity (compared to 59% in 2021, 62% in 2020, 81% in 2019, 83% in 2018 and 85% in 2017). These production capacities are estimated by Inovev at 23.15 million vehicles per year (excluding trucks) while production in Europe (European Union + UK + Turkey) did not exceed 13.4 million units, compared to 13.8 million in 2021, 14.5 million in 2020 and 18.9 million in 2019.
- The utilization rate of European plants therefore continued to plunge last year, due firstly to a production volume which has failed to recover since the health crisis of 2020 and secondly to a refusal by carmakers to close some of their plants largely underemployed.
- They are counting on a recovery in production over the next few years, thanks to a revival of sales in Europe and for export, but this should not be spectacular according to the forecasts of Inovev, which foresees a low growth.
- Sometimes, carmakers count on the arrival of new models on a particular production site. For example, Renault is maintaining its production capacities in Douai despite a very low production volume in 2022 (Talisman, Espace, Scénic models at the end of their life), because the carmaker plans to produce its electric range there, which is currently being developed ( R4, R5, Megane, Scenic, Micra).
- According to Inovev, it is however possible that in the long term, some carmakers will have no other choice but to close some of their plants.