+++ CALIFORNIA has long been a hotbed for electric vehicles in the USA, and through the first 9 months of this year, EVs accounted for 22.2% of all new vehicle sales across the state, according to the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA). While this represents only a modest increase from the EV share reported over the same period last year, it’s significantly more than the 9.1% share they had in 2021. Between January and September, 1.320.708 new light vehicles (across all powertrains) were registered across the Golden State. This marks a 1.7% decline from the same period in 2021, with 362.881 cars (down 13.1%) and 957.827 light trucks (up 3.4%). By the end of the year, 1.75 million new vehicles are expected to be registered in California; a slight drop from the 1.77 million delivered last year and a considerable decline from pre-Covid years, when annual sales between 2015 and 2019 consistently hit or exceeded 1.89 million units. What’s particularly interesting is the proportion of recent sales that have been for BEVs and hybrids. Sales of BEVs have jumped to 293.109 units, or a 22.2% share of the market year-to-date, slightly higher than the 21.5% share they had through all of 2023. The proportion of traditional hybrid vehicles sold this year has also risen, with 182.469 being registered to new homes. Hybrids now accounted for 13.8% of the total market. In contrast, plug-in hybrid sales are lagging behind BEVs and standard hybrids. Only 45.244 units were sold in the first 9 months of the year, holding steady at a 3.4% market share, the same as their share through all of 2023. Gasoline-powered vehicles remain by far the most popular powertrain choice in California. Of all the new light vehicles sold in the state this year, 58.3% have petrol engines. BEVs are the next most popular at 22.2%, followed by hybrids at 13.8%, plug-in hybrids at 3.4%, and diesel models at 2.3%. Altogether, the combined market share of BEVs, hybrids, PHEVs and fuel cell vehicles has reached 39.4%. When it comes to BEV dominance, Tesla remains the undisputed heavyweight champion in California. According to data, the Model Y towers over the competition with a staggering 105.693 new registrations from January to September this year, making it the state’s best-selling BEV by a margin that’s almost embarrassing for its rivals. Its smaller sibling, the Model 3, comes in second with 34.219 units, while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (an up-and-comer in the EV space) takes a distant third with just 11.711 units sold. If the Model Y was a politician, it’d be running unopposed. However, Tesla’s overall performance in California tells a more nuanced story. The company’s EV market share in the state has slipped by 8.5% compared to last year, marking a full 12 months of incremental declines. And while Tesla may still own the lion’s share of the BEV segment, the competition is sharpening its claws. Brands like Kia, BMW and Hyundai are quietly but consistently chipping away, each posting year-to-date EV market share gains of 1.4%, 1.3% and 1.3%, respectively. Looking beyond BEVs to the broader automotive landscape in California, Toyota comfortably claims the top spot across all powertrains with 215.402 registrations so far this year, holding a commanding 16.3% market share. Tesla settles for second place with a 12.1% share, while Honda rounds out the top-3, capturing 10.9% of the market. +++
+++ It may seem strange, but this is the third month in a row that the FIAT brand has fallen out of favour with Italian motorists. And that’s saying something, because as anyone who travels in Italy will know, there used to be a Fiat on every street corner. The brand held a position comparable to that of Renault in France, or Volkswagen in Germany. This historic fall from the throne, which began in August, is confirmed by the figures for new registrations in Italy in October 2024, which place Fiat in third place behind Volkswagen and Toyota. Last month, 10.928 Volkswagens, 10.630 Toyotas and 9.194 Fiat cars were registered in Italy. This is huge, because in the same month of 2023, Fiat still registered almost twice as many cars as the 2 aforementioned brands. In cumulative terms since the start of 2024, Fiat is still at the top of the registration rankings with 128.875 units, but the competition is not far behind with Toyota at 102.480 cars and Volkswagen at 100.307 units in third place. For Fiat, this means a fall of 13.9% in the first 9 months of 2024, while Toyota and Volkswagen recorded +25.8% and -2.6% respectively compared with last year. The absolute change at the top will probably not yet take place in 2024, but the gap between Fiat and Toyota is likely to narrow further by the end of the year. There are a number of reasons for this historic reversal in the rankings, first and foremost the transitional phase in which the Fiat brand finds itself, as it bids farewell to important models and has not yet started marketing new models at full speed. The Fiat 500 Hybrid, which ended production in Poland last summer and is running out of stock, is a case in point, as is the Fiat 600, which has only just been launched with mild hybrid engines. The new Fiat 500 Torino (the electric 500 with a petrol mild hybrid engine) will have to wait until at least the end of 2025. Added to this are the high expectations for the Fiat Grande Panda, which is not yet available in Italy, and the massive drop in registrations of the 500X and Tipo, models that are now almost 10 years old. Toyota’s excellent sales results in Italy are the result of a hybrid range that is very popular with local motorists, who focus mainly on the Yaris Cross, the Yaris, the Aygo X, the C-HR and the plug-in hybrid version of the RAV4. Volkswagen, for its part, is building on the success of its SUVs, notably the T-Roc, T-Cross and Tiguan, while the Polo and Golf, with the Taigo, continue to find many customers. +++
+++ When MAZDA killed the 6 at the beginning of the year, it ruled out a next-generation sedan on the new rear-wheel-drive platform. Why? The company said its large SUVs like the CX-60 would act as their replacements (which they’re not). The statement followed a similar announcement made in early 2022 when Mazda denied plans to go after the German luxury trifecta. However, there’s still hope. According to the brand’s Large Product Group program manager, the Japanese brand hasn’t completely closed the door on a new Mazda6 with RWD underpinnings. Kohei Shibata told that it might just happen provided more people start buying sedans again: “Personally, a FR [Front-engined, Rear-wheel drive] sedan would be a good dream for everyone. Journalists always tell me that you should make a sedan, but the marketplace is so small. So if people start to buy that kind of vehicle, then that will let us make that vehicle”. Shibata wasn’t referring strictly to Mazda vehicles but sedans in general. With the Corolla and Camry, Toyota has proven there’s still strong demand for sedans in an SUV-obsessed world if the product is right. On the other hand, the Kia Stinger wasn’t exactly a commercial success, so Mazda is rightfully concerned that a 6-cylinder, rear-wheel-drive 6 would suffer the same fate. +++
+++ The MG ES5 is the new electric SUV from the Chinese owned British brand, and it comes with a big job behind it, which is to take over from the previous ZS EV. However, its design is a considerable departure from its predecessor and its technology has been significantly upgraded. Thanks to the inclusion of the MSP platform, like the MG4, the new MG ES5 will give its rivals more than a headache. These include the Ford Explorer, Mini Countryman E, Opel Grandland Electric, Peugeot E-3008, Renault Scenic, Skoda Elroq, Volkswagen ID.4 and Volvo EX40. With a length of 4.47 metres and a wheelbase of 2.73 metres, the MG ES5 looks good. Even in its entry-level trim, the design has already been registered in Europe by the Asian giant. After showing you the entry-level versions of the ‘3’ and ‘ ZS’ , it’s the turn of the electric SUV. It is distinguished mainly by specific trim and the absence of certain decorative elements. What remains unchanged are its main features, such as the dual-plane light clusters, the door creases and a light signature connecting the lights. In addition, equipment details such as surround-view cameras and parking sensors can be seen. In the cabin, the 10.25-inch instrumentation and 15.6-inch central screen for the multimedia system take centre stage. The car claims a boot capacity of 462 litres, a volume that expands to 1.423 litres if the rear seats are folded down. On a technical level, the new ES5 delivers 170 hp and 250 Nm to the rear axle. There are 2 possible LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, of 49.1 and 62.2 kWh capacity, with ranges of 310 and 400 km respectively under the WLTP cycle. Performance is good, as confirmed by an acceleration from 0-100 kph in 7.7 seconds, which is 7.9 seconds for the version with the more capable battery. The manufacturer also boasts a 50:50 weight distribution, 5-link rear suspension and XDS differential. In terms of technology, there’s cross-traffic alert, lane assist, adaptive cruise control, blind spot and fatigue detection, automatic emergency braking, V2L function, driving modes, automatic tailgate, traffic sign recognition and an electric panoramic roof. +++
+++ ‘Even the Rich Cry’ is a popular soap opera in Mexico from the 1970s that is used as an expression to say that people of high social status and those who have lived in comfort can also face hard times. In the automotive field, we could say that this is the case with PORSCHE , known worldwide for its famous sports cars and, lately, SUVs and luxury saloons, and its ability to overcome any difficulties. However, times have changed. Porsche is a solid brand of the large Volkswagen Group. Over the past 15 years it has been able to successfully enter new segments, introducing new models and powertrains that were unthinkable a few decades ago. Thanks to quality, performance and good marketing, Porsche has increased global sales almost threefold between 2009 and 2023. Other brands such as Tesla, Cupra, Dacia and BYD may have grown even faster in a shorter period, but their cars are not as expensive as Porsches. This remarkable achievement has allowed Porsche to confidently explore the electric car segments with relative success. The Taycan is one of the best-selling luxury electric cars today and a good marketing example of how electrification does not necessarily damage the image of a sports car brand. However, new problems are emerging. In 2023, Porsche set a new annual sales record with 320.200 units worldwide, after 16 consecutive years of growth (with the exception of Covid’s year 2020). However, it seems that the German brand will not be able to beat this record at the end of this year. The latest figures released show that global deliveries between January and September amounted to 226.000 units, a drop of almost 7 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. According to the company’s report, the main reason for the drop was lower demand in China, which fell by 29 percent. As far as models are concerned, there are 2 clear trends that explain Porsche’s difficult time. Firstly, the Taycan is experiencing sharp declines in a market where demand is no longer growing, at least in Europe and the US. The Taycan is also facing increasing competition in China, by far the largest BEV market in the world. To make matters worse, the Taycan was unveiled at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, which means it has been on the market for 5 years. The other, more worrying trend concerns the Macan. With the arrival of the second generation, available only as an electric vehicle, Porsche’s bestseller is still trying to beat the sales results of the previous combustion-engined generation. Porsche has removed the first generation from some key markets to focus more on the new, all-electric one. The perol-Macan is no longer available on the brand’s German website. The same happens in France, the Netherlands, Spain and Austria, among others. The new Macan costs on average 22 percent more than the previous generation. The increase is mainly explained by the change of propulsion from petrol to purely electric. The situation gets worse when one considers the growing fears and negative mood towards electric vehicles in Europe. However, the new Macan has not been introduced everywhere, so the model change is still hurting sales. The data show that Porsche is no longer growing mainly due to its electric models or the switch from ICE to BEV. Does this mean that the general negative trend for electric cars is also having an impact on the once safe luxury brands? +++
+++ SVOLT , the battery division of Great Wall Motors that was spun off in 2018, is cancelling its plans for European battery factories. After the cell factory in Brandenburg was cancelled at the end of May, the Chinese company has now also pulled out of the site in Saarland. This means that all of Svolt’s plans for Europe have been cancelled. Svolt confirmed this to the Chinese news agency Yicai on Wednesday. The weak demand for electric cars in Europe was cited as the reason for the decision. Svolt had already announced battery production in Saarland in 2020. It was to consist of a cell factory in Überherrn and a module and battery production facility in Heusweiler. Svolt wanted to invest around €2 billion in the project; the annual capacity was to be 24 GWh. In 2021, Svolt signed a contract with Stellantis for the supply of lithium-ion batteries from 2025, but there were several delays at the plant in Saarland. In 2022, Svolt therefore announced the construction of a battery cell factory in Lauchhammer, Brandenburg on an existing industrial site. This was to have an annual capacity of 16 GWh. These plans were then cancelled in May 2024 and the plant in Überherrn was also on the back burner, while Svolt wanted to retain the Heusweiler site. Now, none of the 3 factories will be built. The largest cell factory in Germany to date is the CATL plant near Erfurt with an annual capacity of 8 GWh. There is also a cell factory operated by the Swiss company Leclanché in Willstätt near Kehl, which produces cells with LTO and NMCA chemistry (lithium titanate and nickel-manganese cobalt aluminium). Production capacity is to be increased to 2.5 GWh. However, the cells are not intended for electric cars, but for commercial vehicles, trains, ferries and stationary energy storage systems. Volkswagen’s first cell plant with 40 GWh is scheduled to start operations in Salzgitter in 2025. A year later, Northvolt Three in Heide will follow with up to 60 GWh. Northvolt is currently experiencing economic difficulties, but is still holding on to the site in northern Germany. The joint venture ACC between Stellantis and Mercedes is also planning a plant in Kaiserslautern, which is currently on hold. The joint venture between Porsche and Customcells is also planning a 20 GWh plant near Tübingen. And Tesla wants to build a cell plant in Grünheide at some point. Many companies are currently putting a question mark behind all investments related to electric cars. The reason is weakening demand. However, this will probably not remain so weak for all time; if the EU’s fleet limits for 2025 remain in place, the market could boom again. And then there will be calls everywhere for cells from Europe again. +++
+++ Many big petrol or diesel-powered SUVs are set to be replaced by pure-electric alternatives, but VOLVO is claiming the XC90 is not one of these as it prepares to launch the similarly sized, similarly styled battery-powered EX90. A Volvo official said: “We will continue updating the XC90 for as long as there is demand. It is an important car for us”. The XC90 is Volvo’s third most popular model around the world so far in 2024, trailing the XC60 and XC40, but just ahead of the all-electric EX30. The XC90 is the oldest model in Volvo’s line-up, with the second-generation model having launched back in 2015. Based on the first iteration of Volvo’s Scalable Product Architecture, the 7-seat SUV is currently offered in mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid guise. As for the EX90, Volvo put its new all-electric flagship SUV on sale recently. A spokesperson told that despite the 2 cars competing in similar segments of the market, the EX90 isn’t a direct replacement for the XC90, stating: “we don’t see EX90 and XC90 buyers as the same”. Volvo recently adjusted its EV-only deadline of 2030, declaring it’ll aim for 90 to 100 percent of its cars to be electrified by the turn of the decade. It’s unlikely we’ll see another internal combustion-engined XC90 before that time. The current XC90’s 9-year lifespan is still some way off the original XC90’s, which lasted from 2003 to 2014. +++