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BMW i3 Production Hits 100,000 Units, i8 Roadster To Be Made In Leipzig

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BMW i3 Production Hits 100,000 Units, i8 Roadster To Be Made In Leipzig

30 Oct 2017, 14:15 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

Inaugurated in 2010, the Leipzig plant in Germany is where BMW manufactures the i3 and i8. The former celebrates a production milestone after the 100,000th i3 rolled off the assembly line, while the i8 family will usher in the Roadster in 2018. And similar to the coupe, it will also be built in Leipzig.
85 photosThese announcements were made by plant director Hans-Peter Kemser and chairman of the Board of Management, Harald Kruger, as the launch of the BMW Battery Storage Farm. Essentially a storage unit comprised of 700 batteries sourced from used i3s, the eco-friendly setup is connected to the plant’s wind turbines, and it’s integrated with the public power grid of Saxony.
Moving back to cars, the i3 is currently produced at a rate of approximately 120 vehicles per day. In regard to production, the number of i3s manufactured in 2016 totals 26,631, sensibly more than the 2,783 i8s built in the same period. The ratio will likely soldier on in 2018, when the i8 Roadster will be added to the range, breathing new life into the brand’s plug-in hybrid flagship.
According to Kruger, BMW will offer no less than 25 models with electrified drivetrains by 2025, including the long-anticipated i5 and the iNext. “With BMW i as our spearhead, we intend to remain the leading premium supplier of electro-mobility going forward,” declared the official. Speaking of electro-mobility going forward, the 530e iPerformance is the first BMW to be offered with wireless charging capability, a feature that’ll become available next year.
While the i8 Roadster is too expensive for the reach of mere mortals who want to go green, the i3 is more than adequate for those in the market for a premium-oriented EV and range-extended electric vehicle. According to an undisclosed tipster, the i3 will receive a battery upgrade sometime in 2018, which is expected to offer 42.5 kWh capacity and a much-needed boost in driving range.

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Maserati Cuts Production for a Month Due to Lack of Demand

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Maserati Cuts Production for a Month Due to Lack of Demand

19 Dec 2017, 20:18 UTC · by Mihnea Radu
/ Home / News / Car Profile

While most car manufacturers are talking about all-time high sales and employee bonuses for 2017, Maserati's people will be taking a month-long siesta.
5 photosMore specifically, the Ghibli and Quattroporte sedans will stop being made between December 15 to January 15. Meanwhile, the Levante, which is doing slightly better, will be out of production from December 20 to January 15. And as for the GranTurismo and GranCabrio, they will be out from December 15 to January 8th, according to Automotive New Europe.
“It is clear that production is slowing down and investment in new models are on hold,” union boss Federico Bellono told the publication.
On paper at least, adding an SUV to the roster seemed like the perfect solution to Maserati's slow sales. However, competition is harsher than ever, and the V6 engine just couldn't do a good enough job to hide the Levante's flaws.
About a year after the Quattroporte was launched, it because clear that Maserati was going to continue struggling, as production was slowed. In 2017 alone, the automaker shut down the line on two other occasions.
Problems with the Chinese economy are mostly to blame now. However, the country, which is now the world's largest producer of solar energy, has also become unwelcoming for gas guzzling cars. Meanwhile, the Levante PHEV is nowhere to be seen.
It's important to understand just how small the Trident brand is right now. Back in April, it delivered its 100,000 cars. So there are fewer Maseratis in the world then there are W222 Mercedes S-Class sedans.
In 2016, Maserati's sales volume in China broke 12,000, which marks an increase of 120 times over the 100 sales made in 2004, the company's first year operating there. Today, Maserati has around 30,000 customers in China, 38 percent of whom are women. So there's still room to grow. But we're not sure the new coupe models being planned are what people want.

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Citroen C4 Hatchback Going Out Of Production, Replacement Coming In 2020/2021

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Citroen C4 Hatchback Going Out Of Production, Replacement Coming In 2020/2021

27 Oct 2017, 14:36 UTC · by Mircea Panait
/ Home / News / Car Profile

The introduction of the C4 Cactus facelift is a two-sided matter for Citroen. The compact-ish crossover effectively replaces the C4 hatchback, which is one of the least exciting cars in the segment, as well as one of the oldest.
11 photosNot accounting for the first generation (2004 to 2010), the C4 hatchback has been with us since 2010. Also offered as a sedan and in Aircross flavor, the C4 also brought forth the DS 4, which happens to suffer from peculiar flaws.
Listed on the French and British configurators from €18,950 and £21,310, respectively, you know the C4 hatchback doesn’t have a winning chance against the likes of the cheaper and funkier C4 Cactus. So what did Citroen’s higher-ups decide given this dire situation? Phase it out, of course!
The confirmation comes from Xavier Peugeot, senior vice president of product planning at Citroen. “The current C4 is a seven-year-old design and we had to make a decision. We will stop production and the C4 Cactus will take its place,” he told the peeps at Autocar, and that settles the deal. But what will happen with the void left by the C4 hatchback? After all, the compact segment is hugely popular in Europe, and Citroen cannot afford to misstep.
As it happens, the French automaker is developing a C-segment hatchback for launch in 2020, 2021 at the latest. An all-new model from the ground up, the all-new C4 hatchback is expected to ride on the EMP2 platform, which underpins many cars in the PSA lineup, from the Peugeot 308 to the DS 7 Crossback, as well as light commercial vehicles such as the Toyota Proace.
Needless to highlight, the 2020/2021 Citroen C4 hatchback will borrow the Progressive Hydraulic Cushion suspension system from the C4 Cactus and C5 Aircross. According to Citroen head honcho Linda Jackson, “we are talking here about 21st-century comfort in suspension and seats.”

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Consumer new car finance volumes down 8%

6 October 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that new business volumes in the point of sale (POS) consumer new car finance market fell by 8% in August, compared with the same month in 2016, while the value of new business was up by 2% over the same period.
The percentage of private new car sales financed by FLA members through the POS held steady at 86.0% in the twelve months to August.
The POS consumer used car finance market reported new business in August up 8% by value and 2% by volume, compared with the same month last year.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The August figures reported by the POS consumer new car finance market are in line with wider trends in private new car sales. These trends are not unexpected given the strength of the market in recent years and subdued consumer confidence about the general economic outlook.
“New business volumes in the POS consumer car finance market overall were stable in the first eight months of 2017 compared with the same period in 2016.”
Table 1: Cars bought on finance by consumers through dealerships
New business
Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Value of advances (£m)
817
+2
3,561
+2
18,356
+4
Number of cars
45,728
-8
191,258
-7
1,002,368
-3
Used cars
Value of advances (£m)
1,284
+8
3,855
+12
14,568
+10
Number of cars
113,221
+2
339,625
+6
1,301,475
+5
Table 2: Cars bought on finance by businesses
New business
Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
New cars
Number of cars
30,146
+3
132,405
+5
513,616
0
Used cars
Number of cars
5,293
+51
17,534
+54
58,848
+35
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016. £41 billion of it supported the purchase of new and used cars, including over 86% of private new car registrations.2. For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Second charge mortgage market growth continues in August

6 October 2017
Commenting on the August 2017 new business figures for the second charge mortgage market, Fiona Hoyle, Head of Consumer and Mortgage Finance at the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA), said:
“The second charge mortgage market reported another strong month in August, with new business continuing to grow from a low base.
“A second charge mortgage provides a useful alternative where homeowners want to raise additional funds but do not want to change their existing first charge mortgage.”
Table 1: New second charge mortgage lending
Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
Value of new business (£m)
91
+25
274
+27
974
+10
Number of new agreements (No.)
1,905
+11
5,852
+18
20,910
+4
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit, representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Consumer finance up 4% in August

6 October 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business in August grew by 4% compared with the same month last year.
Credit card and personal loan new business together grew by 4% compared with August 2016, while retail store and online credit new business increased by 7%. Second charge mortgage new business increased 25% by value and 11% by volume over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The modest growth in consumer finance new business overall in August reflects subdued consumer confidence about the general economic outlook.
“New business grew by 6% in the first eight months of this year, which is in line with single-digit growth expectations for UK new consumer credit in 2017 as a whole.”
Table 1: New consumer credit lending
Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA consumer finance (£m)
7,155
+4
22,470
+8
91,582
+6
Data extracts:
Retail store and online credit (£m)
501
+7
1,589
+7
6,668
+2
Credit cards & personal loans (£m)
4,038
+4
11,997
+10
46,872
+7
Second charge mortgages (£m)
91
+25
274
+27
974
+10
Car finance (£m)
2,101
+6
7,416
+7
32,924
+7
Note to editors:
FLA members in the consumer finance sector include banks, credit card providers, store card providers, second-charge mortgage lenders, motor finance providers, personal loan and instalment credit providers.In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £88 billion of this was in the form of consumer credit representing over a third of total new consumer credit written in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

Continued growth in asset finance

6 October 2017
New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 3% in August, compared with the same month last year.
The plant and machinery finance sector reported new business up in August by 4% compared with the same month in 2016, while new finance for business equipment was up by 8% over the same period.
Commenting on the figures, Geraldine Kilkelly, Head of Research and Chief Economist at the FLA, said:
“The asset finance industry has reported solid new business growth so far in 2017. Growth in asset finance provided to manufacturers has been particularly robust, with new business for production and processing plant up by more than 40% in the first eight months of 2017.”
Aug 2017
% change on prev. year
3 months to Aug
2017
% change on prev. year
12 months to Aug
2017
% change on prev. year
Total FLA asset finance (£m)
2,204
+3
7,957
+6
31,803
+6
Total excluding high value (£m)
2,163
+4
7,726
+10
30,643
+7
Data Extracts:
By asset:
Plant and machinery finance (£m)
502
+4
1,773
+21
6,546
+14
Commercial vehicle finance (£m)
513
-7
1,771
+1
7,479
+2
IT equipment finance (£m)
171
-3
595
+3
2,224
-2
Business equipment finance (£m)
187
+8
694
+10
2,567
+14
Car finance (£m)
613
+10
2,452
+9
9,842
+7
Aircraft, ships and rolling stock finance (£m)
7
-76
27
-82
611
+12
By channel:
Direct finance (£m)
1,108
+2
4,041
+9
15,571
+6
Broker-introduced finance (£m)
453
+7
1,385
+7
5,744
+16
Sales finance (£m)
602
+7
2,300
+12
9,327
+6
By product:
Finance leasing (£m)
272
0
989
+5
4,018
-2
Operating leasing (£m)
470
+4
1,687
+9
7,107
+8
Lease/Hire purchase (£m)
1,194
+3
4,201
+7
16,618
+9
Other finance (£m)
268
+4
1,080
0
4,059
+3
Note to editors:
In 2016, FLA members provided £118 billion of new finance to UK businesses and households. £30 billion of finance was provided to businesses and the public sector. FLA members financed more than a third of UK investment in machinery, equipment and purchased software in the UK in 2016.For media enquiries, please contact the FLA press office on 020 7420 9656.

China’s Used Car Deals Speed Up As Didi Chuxing Invests $200M In Renrenche.com

Didi Chuxing has bought US$200 million worth of shares in Beijing-based second-hand car marketplace Renrenche.com in a strategic investment, marking the latest investment deal in China’s fast moving online used-car market, according to Didi’s announcement. The funding is a boost for Renrenche, as its three top competitors have each raised money recently. Uxin Group, Guazi.com… Continue reading China’s Used Car Deals Speed Up As Didi Chuxing Invests $200M In Renrenche.com