Alfa Romeo Global Sales (Model) : 2017-18

The then FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne predicted that Alfa Romeo sales would reach 400,000 by 2018, approximately 150,000 in North America. It was hard to see how such a surge in sales could be achieved. A couple of automotive analysts came up with 220,000 and 250,000. Premium car buyers are more conservative and less likely to brand hop than mainstream buyers so the predictions looked optimistic.

Global Premium Sales (Brand) : 2017-18

The premium market has been outstripping mainstream car sales for some time. However, the signs are there that this may be coming to an end. Global sales went from +6% in 2017 to +2% in 2018. We will see if that is a lasting trend. I get a feeling that it is.

The BMW Group is the biggest premium entity with close to 2.5 million sales. Mercedes Benz was closing the gap but that didn't happen

GM North America Production (Model) : 2017-18

GM is following the local USA brand trend of abandoning car production. Light trucks are the future and they can't get back to the future quick enough.

USA: Cars still account for 24% of the total, bu that's down from 30% the year previous. Cars have drpped 28% and 22% the past two years so on the out for certain. Meanwhile, light trucks were up 1% for the comparative period. That put both

FCA North America Production (Model) : 2017-18

The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles company makes vehicles in all three of the NAFTA nations. What may be surprising is that cars are now almost non-existent. Less than 8% of the total in fact.

USA: Cars are no longer made here, although light trucks are doing just fine. Nearly 1.5 million of then rolled down production lines in 2018. That was comprised of 62% Jeep  and 38% Dodge/Ram.





USA

Ford/Lincoln NA Production (Model) : 2017-18

Ford has made no secret of its desire to end car production (the Mustang will stay) and concentrate on light trucks, or utility vehicles. The idea is there is little money in cars but there is more to the picture than that, unless you are an accountant.

Cars promote foot traffic in dealerships. Take cars away and people that may have gone to buy a car but been talked into a light truck will

Parking NZ Style

When it comes to inconveniencing other people, the Kiwi male is very good. Parking across your access to and from your house, in drive ways that others use to get to their home and garage and footpaths being blocked. All of this to save them walking a few extra metres. If you ask them to move, the reply is 'I'll only be ten minutes". If you say I can't wait that long, then they reluctantly comply

Hyundai/Kia & Mazda US/Mexico Production (Model) : 2017-18

Hyundai & Kia share factories in the US and Mexico so have been combined here. Mazda was added to the page as its too small for a dedicated article.

USA: Five models are made here and none stands out in terms of volume. Two years of -17% and -9% decreases have been experienced. While the 550,000 units sound a lot, the 1,270,000 sales in the country puts them well into net importers.

Subaru/Tesla US Production (Model) : 2017-18

Two brands that have no connection but as both are not large operations, I combined them.

USA: Production grew 22% in 2017, but came to a halt in 2018, despite the Ascent truck arriving on the scene. The Outback remains the main model. With an impressive 680,000 vehicles sold in the US in 2018, it is a net importer.





USA Production – Subaru


Model
2018
%
+/-

Honda Nth America Production (Model) : 2017-18

Honda produces vehicles in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Its premium brand Acura is only assembled in the US.

USA: Car volumes have fallen -23% and -9% the past two years. Meanwhile trucks were up +14% and +12% and now constitute 61.7% of the units manufactured. Two new models were introduced during the year and UK Civic production will be added when Honda pull out of European assembly. 1.6

Nissan/Infiniti US/Mexico Production (Model) : 2017-18

Nissan's North American assembly plants are to be found in the USA and Mexico. In both cases the numbers involved are impressive.

USA: After years of growth, the past two years have seen declines, -8% and now -10%. Cars have been the main reason but trucks too haven't been spared. The range of trucks is varied, with eve an Infiniti model. With Nissan and Infiniti sales in the US at 1,494,000,

Toyota Nth America Production (Model) : 2017-18

Only Toyota and Honda are import brands that have plants in all three of the NAFTA region countries. What is amazing is how close the total production is for each of the three countries.

USA: 1.24 million is the total, down 2% on 2017, which was down 9%. Cars were the issue in 2017 (-19%) but in 2018 there was little in it. The highlander model is closing in on a quarter of all production.

Volkswagen US/Mexico Production (Model) : 2017-18

VW assemble cars in both the USA and Mexico, but mostly south of the border. In both cases, volume was up strongly in 2017, but slipped in 2018.

USA: Just one car and one SUV are involved here. A 9% fall was due to the car dropping 37%, while the truck went up 34%. With VW selling 350,000 cars and light trucks in 2018, clearly VW import many more than they make in the US.





USA

BMW/Mercedes US Production (Model) : 2017-18

Both of these companies make some vehicles in the US. So which models do they assemble? Let's find out.

BMW: Various SUV models are all that they do, totaling about 350,000 units in 2018. In comparison, 310,000 vehicles were sold in the US. That makes it a net exporter from here. For the past two years the total has dropped slightly.





USA Production - BMW


Model
2018
%

Jaguar i-Pace Monthly Sales By Nation : 2019

People who are really into electrically motivated cars like data. Not only to do with the vehicle but also how they sell. Because of that, I'm going to run a monthly list of the i-Pace sales by country. It obviously will be accomplished without input from Jaguar as it won't be complete. If anyone can add to it, please let me know at rdc1234@gmail.com.

Until sales settle down, supply will

Boy, Do I Feel Stupid!

Toyota was the last car manufacturer to pull out of the Australian market. It did so because the scale of operation was insufficient as a sole manufacturer in the country. Its hand was forced by the decisions of two other car makers. How did Toyota Toyota president and CEO Max Yasuda feel about the closure? To quote Australia's Drive:

As Yasuda explains, the decision to close the local operation