The Global Light Vehicle (LV) selling rate neared 91 million units/year in July, the best result of the year so far. However, in year-on-year (YoY) terms, market volumes were marginally down on July 2023. Year-to-date (YTD), the market remains in positive territory, up just under 2%. Sales in China maintained a solid pace as NEVs sales continue to gain traction. In the US, YoY sales declined as high vehicle pricing and concerns over the economy weighed on vehicle consumers. The same can be said for Western Europe, which saw its selling rate struggle in July. Meanwhile, the Japanese market surged as supply has begun to catch up from the losses created by the previous vehicle certification issues.
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So what, pray, does the future hold for Stellantis? This, the first of three reports, takes a look at highlights of what should be ahead for Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS and Ferrari.
Toyota ditching petrol?
Toyota may be one of the slowest legacy automakers to develop electric vehicles but it could be the first to jettison cars powered only by petrol, according to a Reuters report. Almost 30 years after launching the Prius, its pioneering petrol electric hybrid, Toyota was moving to convert most, and eventually maybe all, of its Toyota and Lexus ranges to hybrid only models, two company executives told Reuters. Chairman Akio Toyoda had said in January he believed the global share of EVs would top out at just 30% so the automaker instead touted a “multi-pathway” strategy that included EVs along with hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, green fuels and, potentially, other technology yet to emerge.
BMS fire prevention
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By GlobalDataHyundai Motor Group (HMG) said it planned to make its battery management system (BMS) available in all its forthcoming electric vehicles (EVs) to alleviate growing concerns over battery safety following a devastating fire in South Korea last week. The fire, which started in a Mercedes-Benz EQE in the carpark of an apartment complex in Incheon, injured 27 people and destroyed 100 vehicles. It significantly affected already weak sentiment towards battery electric vehicles (BEVs) at a time of when manufacturers were trying to revive plunging sales in the country. Hyundai claimed BMS can help prevent battery fires by notifying EV owners and the automakers’ support centres of any battery abnormalities such as overcharging and micro short circuits.
China marches on
Chinese EV maker BYD is reportedly planning an assembly plant in Pakistan as part of its market entry strategy for the populous South Asian country. Bloomberg reported BYD was working with a local partner on the project for a factory in Karachi. The report also said that the company would shortly reveal three models it plans to sell in Pakistan.
Waymo honk problem
The world’s only self-driving taxi company has been forced to fix a fleet of cars after US residents complained about their constant honking, Sky News reported. Waymo autonomous cars arrived in a car park in San Francisco, California, a few weeks ago, where they wait between jobs. However, the cars were installed with an update that made them beep their horns whenever another car reversed close to them. The taxis beeped at each other right through the night as they parked or set off on a journey, making it hard for nearby residents to sleep. The taxi company, owned by Google parent Alphabet, said the honking problem was now fixed.
Adieu, Australia
Citroen has said it would end new car sales in Australia. Nine dealers nationwide would now solely provide service and vehicle maintenance support, local website carsales.com.au reported. The local importer, UK based vehicle distribution giant Inchcape, which also brings in Subaru and Peugeot, would effectively replace the French brand with Chinese Foton models, the report added.
First US Polestar
Polestar has announced it has started the production of its luxury SUV, Polestar 3, in Volvo’s plant in South Carolina. The firm says this makes the Polestar 3 the first Polestar to be produced on two continents. The factory in South Carolina produces cars for customers in the US and Europe, complementing existing production in Chengdu, China.
China falling
Global sales of Chinese made vehicles declined 5% to 2.262m units in July 2024 from 2.387m a year earlier, according to passenger car and commercial vehicle wholesale data compiled by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). Sales last month were driven by a 20% increase in exports to 469,000 units while domestic sales fell 10% to 1.793m. Economic growth slowed to 4.7% year on year in the second quarter from 5.3% in the first quarter with domestic consumption continuing to be affected by the ongoing property crisis with demand for large items particularly weak. Exports were also starting to be held back by rising frictions with key trading partners such as the US and the EU.
Charging record claimed
Chinese EV maker Zeeker claimed its new batteries could be charged from 10% to 80% capacity in 10.5 minutes. The 2025 007 sedan would be the first model to carry the upgraded LFP prismatic batteries, with deliveries expected to begin next week. The automaker also claimed the battery performed well in cold weather charging from 10% to 80% in less than half an hour at temperatures as low as -10C.
Aptiv expansion
Aptiv has expanded its factory in Chennai, India to produce fully integrated, software defined digital cockpit controllers. SVP Matthew Cole said: “We continue to expand our business in India.” The supplier would invest US$45m in engineering and facilities and double the number of employees.
Korea imports up
Sales of imported light passenger vehicles in South Korea increased by 4% to 21,977 units in July 2024 from 21,138 units a year earlier, according to registration data released by the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (Kaida). Overall demand for new vehicles in South Korea had weakened this year with domestic sales also slowing by 2% to 112,468 units last month and by 11% to 781,491 units year to date (YTD). The country’s heavily indebted consumers had reined in spending on big items and have become more cost conscious. This had affected sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in particular, as had rising concerns over battery safety.
Takata. Again
Ford and Mazda have issued a fresh warning to US owners of 475,000 vehicles still fitted with faulty airbag inflators, produced by the now defunct Japanese supplier Takata Corporation, to stop driving them. The automakers said the warning was targeted at owners of 374,000 Ford, Mercury and Lincoln plus 83,000 Mazda vehicles sold between 2003 and 2015 which are still fitted with Takata airbag inflators similar to those which have been blamed for a string of serious injuries and deaths over the last two decades.
Have a nice weekend.
Graeme Roberts, Deputy Editor, Just Auto
