The level of the European market since 2020 confirms the need to close factories
- With a European light vehicle market (PC+LUV) that has gone from an average level of 18 million units per year (volume reached in 2017, 2018, 2019) to an average level of 13 to 15 million units per year (volume reached in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), it is clear that the European automotive industry is increasingly suffering from overcapacity. Even though several major European factories have closed over the past ten years, such as the Opel plant in Bochum and the Ford plant in Genk in 2014, then the Honda plant in Swindon and Nissan plant in Barcelona in 2021, the Renault plant in Flins and the Nedcar plant in Born in 2024, production overcapacity remains significant in Europe.
- They reached 33% in 2023, compared to 39% in 2021 and 2022, but 18% in 2019, 16% in 2018 and even 15% in 2016 and 2017. In 2024, they could be at the same level as in 2023.
- New factory closures are confirmed for 2025:
§ The Audi plant in Brussels will close in February 2025 and the Ford plant in Saarlouis in November 2025.
§ Stellantis has announced that it could close its Luton plant as early as next year.
§ Jaguar has not produced cars at its Castle Bromwich site since June 2024, but the plant is being reconfigured to produce the brand's new electric models that will be launched from 2025.
- Finally, remains the status of Volkswagen for which at least three plants are in overcapacities : Dresden, Osnabrück and Emden. But so far, nothing has been confirmed.