Nissan Leaf UK Production Figures

The Nissan Leaf started being produced in the UK circa 2013. In 2018, it was replaced by the second generation and volume took a notable upturn. In 2024, the model was phased out with a delay until its replacement emerges from the Sunderland plant in 2025. The Ariya model will carry the torch in the meantime.

Nissan is making the Sunderland plant fully electric by 2030, a bold move that many other car makers are backing away from. The rapid growth in sales for BEVs is over. Norway will be an important export market but it isn't a large one overall so I assume production volume at the plant will be lower when it goes all electric in about six years from now.

Car manufacturers have to plan well ahead and the market can move swiftly so anticipating its direction is a challenge. Too conservative and risk getting left behind. Being bold can give an advantage over the competition but also turn into an expensive mistake. 

Perhaps the UK could get behind cars made locally and make sure it is a huge success. Only joking. 

Pics: Nissan UK. 

Morocco Passenger Car Sales : 2024 (Jan-Sep)

Registrations were up 25% in September and 4% YTD. That's a nice increase for the month when in many places sales are struggling. A few Chinese brands have arrived but a little way to go yet to make a noticeable impact. There are some luxury marques missing from the chart below but the main players are there. 

Dacia and its parent company Renault dominate proceedings here. They established that through manufacturing in the country. They currently harvest over 40% of all sales between them. Dacia took the lead in 2010 and hasn't looked back. Some of the brands immediately below them have lost some share to varying degrees.

Data source: AIVAM. Pics: Dacia & Renault Facebook.

Porsche Global Model Sales : 2023/24 (Q1 - Q3)

Deliveries were down 7% after nine months of 2024. Difficult conditions in China and poor electric car sales weighed deliveries down. 

Models: The Cayenne was up 21% which is good for the company as it would be a profitable model. It was also good for sports cars, with the 911 and 718 models increasing. 

The Macan and Panamera were both down 20% but nothing like the electric Taycan which halved its sales. The electric revolution seems to increasingly lack spark. Porche acknowledged this problem and their timeframe in transitioning to BEVs has been put back. 

Data & pictures Porsche.

Region: Europe and the Rest are the regions in positive territory, up 4 and 3%. Germany was up 8% with the rest of Europe up 1%. North America was down slightly but China was the big disappointment with sales down by 29%.  

Takeaways: The drive to electric cars has hit a speed bump and car brands promising to go 100% BEV hopefully have an exit strategy on that. Some ICE vehicles in the range will be required unless taking a hit on volume isn't a worry. E-Fuels is also an option Porsche is pursuing strongly.

China was the goose that laid the golden egg but any manufacturer that put too many eggs in that basket will have to be careful how they proceed from here. With China's economy weakening and local consumers being wooed by local brands, it will be interesting to see where it will lead.