Global automotive production fell by 1.3% in 2018
Global automotive production (PC+LCV) fell by 1.3% in 2018, for the first time since 2009. The estimated volume is 96 million vehicles, compared to 97 million in 2017 and 95 million in 2016.

This loss of one million vehicles is mainly attributable to China, which lost one million units in 2018 compared to 2017, due to a domestic market that fell by nearly 3% on a volume of nearly 30 million units. But other countries also experienced  production volume decrease, such as Germany (-500,000 units), the United States (-200,000 units), Turkey (-190,000 units), Canada (-125,000 units) or the United Kingdom (-125,000 units).

The countries with  volume increase are mainly India (+334 000 units), Russia (+216 000 units), Thailand (+174 000 units), Romania (+136 000 units), Indonesia (134 000 units), Portugal (+124 000 units) and Brazil (+123 000 units).

Automotive production (-1.3%) fell more than sales (-0.3%) in 2018 as automakers anticipated a decline in sales in 2019 and therefore slowed the pace of their production at the end of 2018. In addition, the destocking of vehicles to NEDC standards also contributed to the decline in production in Europe, as it took until all these models were sold before production of models to the new WLTP standards began.


    
 

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World automotive 2018 production by country
While global automotive production increased by 2.3% in 2017 (compared to 2016), it fell by 1.3% in 2018 (compared to 2017) for PC+LCV  and even by 2.0% for PC alone.

Several major producing countries, such as China (-4.2%, to 27.81 million units), the United States (-1.9%, to 11.38 million units), Germany (-9.0%, to 5.54 million units), South Korea (-2.0%, to 4.03 million units) or Mexico (-1.2%, to 3.97 million units) experienced volume decline in 2018. These decreases are mainly due to lower sales but also to difficulties for some manufacturers in complying with the new WLTP standards in Europe.

Nevertheless, some countries’ production continued to increase last year. The major producing countries where volumes  increased are India (+7.1%, to 5.18 million units), Brazil (+4.6%, to 2.81 million units) and Thailand (+8.7%, to 2.16 million units). But the most significant increase was recorded by Russia (+13.2%, to 1.77 million units), which benefited from a sharp increase in its registrations accompanied by a sharp drop in its imports from abroad.

In total, China accounts for 29% of world production, ahead of the United States (12%), Japan (10%), Germany (6%) and India (5.5%). Europe as a whole (29 countries)  accounts for  19% of world production. 


    
 

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The new Opel Movano, (currently built on a Renault base) will be built on a PSA platform
The PSA group, which has owned the former European subsidiaries of the GM group, Opel-Vauxhall, since 2017, is gradually replacing all the commercial vehicles of these two sister brands with Peugeot-Citroën-based models.

The Opel Combo (category N1-1) was the first to be replaced. Previously using  the Fiat Doblo’s, bodywork, platform and engines , it has now  been based on the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo since 2018.

The Opel Vivaro (category N1-2) was the second to be replaced. Previously using   the Renault Trafic’s   bodywork, platform and engines , it has now  been based on the Peugeot Expert and Citroën Jumpy since 2019.

The Opel Movano (category N1-3), currently based on the Renault Master, will therefore be replaced in 2020 by a model derived from the Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper, themselves derived from the Fiat Ducato.

The Opel Combo has been manufactured since 2018 at the PSA site in Vigo (Spain), alongside the Peugeot Partner and Citroën Berlingo.  The Opel Vivaro has been manufactured since 2019 at PSA's Luton site in England. The future Opel Movano will be manufactured as of  2020 at the Fiat site in Val di Sangro (Italy), alongside the Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Jumper.

The production of the Opel Movano has varied considerably since 2005. However, since 2015, volumes have fluctuated between 20,000 and 25,000 units per year. Inovev  forecasts 25,000 units per year of the future Opel Movano.


    
 

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The distribution of the European market by segment and body-type in 2018
The European passenger car market remained stable in 2018 compared to 2017.
Inovev  has studied the evolution of the European passenger car market since 2000, by both  segment and by  body-type:
-By segment :
C segment  sales declined in 2018, mainly due to the underperformance of Volkswagen Golf,   Opel Astra, Ford Focus, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Octavia, but this segment remains the European market leader with 37% market share in 2018 (compared to 38% in 2017). B Segment has moved closer to segment C (34% market share compared to 32% in 2017), thanks to the good performance of Renault Clio, VW Polo, Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris. D Segment is stable at 14% of the market, ahead of segments A (9%) and E (6%). The F segment remains stable at 1% of the market.
-By body-type:
The sedan category fell to 56% of the European market in 2018 (compared to 59% in 2017). It should be recalled that this category was still at 80% of the market in 2009 and 70% in 2014. Sedans are competing with SUVs, which represent 34% of the market in 2018 (compared to 30% in 2017). MPVs are on the verge of extinction, with 6% of the market (compared to 15% in 2005), ahead of microvans (3%) and coupés/cabriolets (1%).


    
 

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Honda announced the closure of its British Swindon plant in 2021
Honda Group (Honda, Acura) announced the closure of its British Swindon plant in 2021. The manufacturer explains that vehicle electrification requires a review of its global production activities and a focus on regions where it expects high production volumes, such as Japan and China. In addition, Honda emphasizes the need to rationalize the production of the Honda Civic. This decision was not obvious as the Swindon plant had been chosen as the hub for Civic's production worldwide and had benefited from significant investments in 2015. According to Inovev, in addition to the factors stated by the manufacturer, others must be considered:

1. The European market has become a second-class market for Honda (the manufacturer occupies only 1% of this market and Europe represents only 3% of its worldwide sales), which makes the presence of assembly plants in Europe questionable.

2. The uncertainties of the last two years regarding the Brexit may also have played an important part in Honda's decision. Especially since this uncertainty is likely to continue.

The Swindon plant, which was established in 1985, has a capacity of 250,000 units per year, which means that it currently operates at less than 65% of its capacity.

This plant now only manufactures the Civic sedan, since CRV and Jazz have not been produced there for several months. In 2018, 137,000 Civic units were produced in this plant, of which nearly 40,000 were sold in Europe and 97,000 were exported to other regions of the world (including 54,000 units to the United States). 


    
 

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