News: Passenger Cars, Minivans, and SUVs

2020-12-21

Kia Motors Targets Growth in Rural Markets

Aditya Kondejkar

Kia Motors is expanding its network and targets to reach 300 touchpoints by the end of the year. Further, the company will now focus on expansion in tier-IV and upcountry markets, which will further penetrate the Indian market.

The company is identifying the nerves of Indian customers. It has rightly understood that one of the critical factors in purchasing a car is consumers’ proximity to the brand. Hence, even before the first product (Seltos) launch in the market, it had a wide-spread network in 160 cities with 265 touchpoints.

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Daimler India Adopts Aggressive Dealer Strategy

Daimler India, which recently set up 10 new touchpoints, plans to have at least 350 dealerships across India in the next two years as it looks to deepen market penetration.

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In September, DICV announced plans to grow its BharatBenz dealer network by 10%, exceeding 250 outlets by the end of 2020. With the opening of these new touchpoints, the company moves a step closer to cutting the distance between dealerships from 160 km to 120 km. The company is expanding strategically. The touchpoints are located on leading national and state highways, improving DICV’s golden quadrilateral coverage.

Along with increasing domestic reach, the company is focusing on the export market. Post announcement of the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the company plans to invest in the country. The new investment could be used to increase the localization levels of components to avail the PLI. Furthermore, India has moved to BS-VI norms (equivalent euro 6 norms), it will be relatively easier for the company to cater to domestic as well as an export market with the same engines (with few moderations).   PSR

Aditya Kondejkar is Research Analyst – South Asia Operations – for Power Systems Research

Japan Sees Hydrogen as Main Fuel by 2030

Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

The government of Japan has set a target of 10 million tons of hydrogen to be used in Japan by 2030, enough to operate more than 30 nuclear power plants. This would be more than 10% of the total electricity capacity in Japan.

It will also hasten the practical application of hydrogen power generation and accelerate the spread of FCVs. The government will provide support through a newly established 2 trillion Yen fund and tax incentives for capital investment.

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2020-11-24

Columbia Auto Market Maintains Growth Curve

The Colombian auto market has retained its growth curve in October by posting sales of 20,900 units, up 13.3% compared to September, a month which also grew 39% above August. Data source:   Andemos

The Andemos said this recovery is due to the increase of procurement for “safe transportation” as well as reopening of the economy and ending of personal isolation.

According to Andemos, if no new measures requiring isolation are taken, then the reduction compared to 2019 will be around 30%

Source: Autodata     Read The Article

PSR Analysis: As we stated in our Q3 2020 update forecast, Colombia is one of the countries most severely affected by COVID-19. It is very good to know that Colombia is restarting its growth cycle. PSR

Fabio Ferraresi is Director-Business Development-South America, for Power Systems Research

Russia To Start Making Diesel Engines for Passenger Cars

Maxim Sakov
Maxim Sakov

Today, there is no mass production of diesel engines for passenger cars in Russia. Production of the last such project, the turbodiesel ZMZ-514 for UAZ SUV, was halted several years ago.

But next year Russia will resume mass production of diesel engines for passenger cars. The PSMA Rus plant in Kaluga will make 1.6-liter diesels of the DV6 family, designed by French PSA. The production start is planned for mid-2021.

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AutoVAZ Shows Best Monthly Sales for 6 Years in October

During October 2020 AutoVAZ increased sales of Lada cars (including the Niva brand) by 22.5% to 37,030 vehicles. This is a best result since October 2014, when the company sold 37,788 cars.

Marketing and sales vice-president of the OEM Mr Morne has explained demand and sales growth by State and own support programs.

AutoVAZ plans to work Saturdays and holidays during November to meet low inventories of cars among dealers.    Read The Article

PSR Analysis: It appears that the grim forecast regarding automotive production in Russia related to the epidemy is not going to come true. However, there is one more factor in the growing demand. The devaluation of national currency will force people to spend their Rubles before they lose a big part of its value.    PSR

2020-10-28

Sollers-Ford Restarts Engine Plant in Elabuga

Maxim Sakov
Maxim Sakov

JV Sollers-Ford will resume production at its engine plant in Elabuga; the plant was closed in the summer of 2019 after Ford has left the Russian Passenger Car market. The engine plant in Elabuga is again owned by JV. Total investment in new project is expected to exceed US$ 8 million (627 million rubles).

The plant will produce diesel engines for LCV Ford Transit units. Mass production is planned for 2023, and production capacity will be 25,000 engines per year.

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Hyundai Plant in St Petersburg To Reduce Production by 15%

Hyundai plans to reduce annual production by 15% at its St Petersburg plant, according to plant director A. Kossack. As he notes, production volume at the plant has dropped significantly this year: in H1 2020, the plant produced only 73,000 cars, 25% of its production capacity.

Taking into consideration September’s output of 24,000 cars, total production volume through the end of the year should reach about 200,000 vehicles, almost 15% below the 2019 results. The plant has just returned to a three-shift working schedule. During the post-quarantine period, the plant working on a two-shift basis, making 700 cars per day. 

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PSR Analysis: It appears that the most pessimistic forecasts for the passenger car market to drop 40-50% are not going to be realized. Despite this outlook, Hyundai remains positive about the Russian market, and plans to start engine production here in 2021.    PSR

Maxim Sakov is Market Consultant, Russia, for Power Systems Research