Inovev forecasts 70,000 units per year of the new Kia K4
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Inovev forecasts 70,000 units per year of the new Kia K4
- The Korean carmaker Kia is revising its model naming policy for Europe, adopting the one used in North America. Indeed, the replacement for the Kia Ceed, a C-segment hatchback with an internal combustion engine whose production ceased in August in Slovakia, is called the K4. This model also replaces the ProCeed and XCeed, which were derived from the Ceed.
-cThe Kia K4 is a 4.44-meter-long hatchback (a two-box sedan with a fifth door at the rear), quite similar to a station wagon (due to its third side window and vertical rear section). It is only available with internal combustion engines; the battery electric version is the EV4, produced in Zilina, Slovakia. It is uncertain whether the Kia K4 will be produced in Slovakia; there are reports suggesting it will be produced in Mexico, at Kia's Pesqueria plant.
- The new model, which will compete with the Peugeot 308, Opel Astra, DS N°4, Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3, Seat/Cupra The Leon, Skoda Octavia, BMW 1 Series, Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3, and Hyundai i30 will receive several engine options: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbo with 115 hp available in gasoline or mild-hybrid (MHEV) versions, and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbo with either 150 hp or 180 hp . A full-hybrid (F-HEV) engine, which is not a plug-in hybrid, will be added to the lineup in 2026.
- The Kia K4 will have to try to revive sales of the Kia Ceed, ProCeed and XCeed, which have fallen to less than 100,000 units per year since 2023, whereas they reached 200,000 units at the beginning of their career in 2008. The Kia K4 and EV4 are expected to be produced at 120,000 units in 2030, including 70,000 K4s and 50,000 EV4s.
Magna Steyr will produce Chinese cars in Austria
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Magna Steyr will produce Chinese cars in Austria
- The assembler Magna Steyr has an assembly plant in Graz, Austria, with a production capacity of 200,000 vehicles per year, for subcontracting agreements generally signed with premium/luxury brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Fisker, Saab, Chrysler, Aston Martin, and Jaguar. In recent years, the Graz plant has been producing only 100,000 vehicles per year, or even less. In 2024, several contracts were terminated, notably with the discontinuation of sales of the Jaguar I-Pace and E-Pace, as well as FiskerOcean. The factory nevertheless continues to assemble Mercedes G-Class, BMW 5 Series, BMW Z4 and Toyota Supra. But these last two models are on probation because BMW and Toyota have announced their withdrawal in 2026.
- Magna-Steyr therefore approached several other carmakers to continue assembling vehicles at its Graz plant. Two Chinese carmakers responded favorably to this request: Xpeng and GAC. While they currently sell few vehicles in Europe, they have ambitions to increase sales, like most Chinese carmakers. Xpeng sold 10,879 battery electric vehicles in Europe in the first eight months of 2025, representing between 16,000 and 20,000 for the entire year. Assembling them in Austria could allow them to avoid the heavy European Union tariffs on models imported from China (31% for Xpeng) and also open doors to the North American market.
- The Xpeng G6 and G9 have been assembled in Graz since the beginning of September 2025, despite no official announcement from the carmaker. The GAC Aion UT and Aion V will be assembled in Graz within a few weeks, with a production run of a few thousand units per year. These models have not yet been sold in Europe.
Renault could produce BEVs in Spain
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Renault could produce BEVs in Spain
- Initially, Renault wanted to create an electric car hub in France, but it seems that this hub is increasingly extending beyond French borders. Certainly, Renault currently produces all of its battery electric cars of its own brand in two factories located in northern France, Douai (R5, Megane , Scenic ) and Maubeuge (Kangoo, R4).
- But from 2027, the production of Renault's battery electric cars will also be established outside of France, since the battery electric Twingo will be assembled in Slovenia, at the Novo Mesto site.
- Renault has announced that Spain could begin producing battery electric Renault vehicles starting in 2028. At least three electric SUVs would be produced at the Palencia plant, where the Renault Austral, Espace, and Rafale (with internal combustion or hybrid engines) are currently assembled. The future battery electric models produced at this site would be derived from the three above mentionned models and could thus compete with the battery electric Peugeot 3008 and 5008. Around 2029/2030, the next generation of the battery electric Scénic, whose origins date back to autumn 2023, could also be added, potentially relocating production from Douai to Palencia. The Douai plant could then take over production of the Alpine A390, currently produced in Dieppe.
- It's worth noting that a significant portion of the Palencia plant's production is currently dedicated to manufacturing hybrid vehicles (Austral, Espace, Rafale). Therefore, it appears that battery electric and hybrid vehicles will coexist at the Palencia plant for several years, depending on demand.
Dacia will renew its range of sedans between 2026 and 2029
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Dacia will renew its range of sedans between 2026 and 2029
The Dacia product plan for 2026-2030 has been unveiled.
- After renewing its Duster SUV and launching a larger SUV than the Duster called Bigster, the Romanian brand Dacia, a subsidiary of the Renault group, plans to renew its range between 2026 and 2030.
- 2026 : A facelift of the Sandero sedan and the Jogger estate is scheduled for 2026. On this occasion, the Sandero will be marketed in a full-hybrid version for the first time in its history (either the 1.6 or the 1.8) while the Jogger will adopt the 1.8 hybrid engine of 155 hp already fitted to the Duster and Bigster in replacement of the 1.6 hybrid of 140 hp.
- 2027 : The battery electric Spring (A-segment) will be replaced by a derivative of the future battery electric Renault Twingo. This future Dacia will therefore abandon the low-cost platform inherited from the Indian Kwid in favor of the Twingo's CMF-B-EV platform, along with its motor and battery, which will provide it with greater range and comfort. The anticipated price is less than €18,000, thanks to production taking place in Slovenia rather than China.
- 2028 : The Sandero will be replaced just two years after its facelift. The future Sandero will use the platform of the Renault Clio VI, which will be launched in 2026. It's possible that this model will be offered as a battery electric vehicle for the first time. Finally, the Stepway version will become a standalone model, supporting the Sandero in the B segment.
- 2029 : The range may be completed with a C-segment sedan and station wagon to compete with the Skoda Octavia. This move upmarket would attract a new customer segment currently absent from Dacia.
Inovev forecasts 300,000 units per year of the new Renault Clio VI
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Inovev forecasts 300,000 units per year of the new Renault Clio VI
- Renault unveiled the sixth generation of the Clio (B segment) at the Munich Motor Show. It will go on sale in spring 2026 and may be the last Clio not to use a fully electric powertrain. The new model features a completely new design, although it shares some similarities with its competitor, the Peugeot 208.
- The sixth generation of the Renault Clio is expected to revive sales of the model, which have gradually declined from 600,000 units in 2006 to 400,000 in the 2010s, then to 200,000 in 2022. Sales did, however, rebound to 300,000 units in 2023 but have not increased since. This two-decade drop in Clio sales can be attributed to external competition, but especially to internal competition, such as the Renault Captur SUV (B segment).
- The Clio VI is 7 cm longer (4.12 m), including 1 cm on the wheelbase, even though it uses the CMF-B platform. Its engines are upgraded with more power: a 1.2-liter three-cylinder petrol engine producing 115 hp replaces the old 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine with 91 hp, and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder full-hybrid engine producing 160 hp replaces the old 1.6-liter four-cylinder full-hybrid engine with 145 hp. The diesel engine, after a brief reappearance on the Clio V, is definitively discontinued.
- The Renault Clio VI, which will be produced exclusively in Turkey (Bursa) at a volume of 300,000 units per year according to Inovev, will have as its main competitors the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa, Toyota Yaris, Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, Lancia Ypsilon, Mazda 2, Suzuki Swift and Hyundai i20. The Citroën C3, Fiat Grande Panda and Dacia Sandero are positioned in the B-segment also but in a lower price market.