UK Engine Production By Manufacturer : 2015-16

The new JLR engine plant in Wolverhampton, UK

UK engine production is one of the few recent success stories in manufacturing. From the nation that brought the world the industrial revolution that is a sad indictment. Under-investment, poor labour relations, a high currency value and little loyalty from the public all played their part. It suits some manufacturers to make engines in the UK so the numbers aren't bad.

Ford is the main producer, turning to engines after it ceased all car making there. Numbers were down in 2016, but these things are cyclical anyway. It still made just over half of the total.

Nissan and Honda numbers were slightly up but their share was slightly down. BMW and Toyota were up on both counts. JLR has returned to engine manufacturing for the first time since 2005.

This year engines made for cars manufactured locally were up 32%, while those exported dropped 6%. That still means 55% are sent offshore as they are, but that is lower than it has been for some time.

Summary: The value that engine manufacturing brings to a country is less than car assembly. Still, in a nation that has too long neglected its manufacturing history this is a positive. They are not record figures but, rather, solid ones.

The figures below are in thousands, so three zeros need to be added.

Data source: SMMT.

	Maker/Yr	2016	2015	+/-
	Ford	1,441	1,607	-10.3%
		56.6%	67.8%
	Nissan	265	251	5.6%
		10.4%	10.6%
	BMW	257	171	50.3%
		10.1%	7.2%
	Toyota	240	204	17.6%
		9.4%	8.6%
	JLR	201	-
		7.9%	0.0%
	Honda	132	125	5.6%
		5.2%	5.3%
	Bentley	13	11	18.2%
		0.5%	0.5%
	Summary
	Local	1,125	852	32.0%
	%	44.2%	36.0%
	Export	1,421	1,517	-6.3%
	%	55.8%	64.0%
	Total	2,546	2,348	8.4%

Citroën Germany Sales (Model) : 2010-2016

Between 2000 to 2009, Citroën sales in Germany increased from 50,000 to 100,000. Leading the way was the tiny C1 model, introduced in 2006 and by 2009, over 22,000 sales were achieved for that model. Citroën's total market share was up to 2.9%. Things were looking good but change was in the wind.

In 2010, the DS brand was spun off as a premium alternative to Citroën. Sales in Germany fell 23%, Citroën sales slumped 37% (32% including DS) and market share dropped to 2.2% (2.4%). The top seller in the range, the C1 dropped 51% but with the market so weak, nothing went well. Sales continued downward as total German sales started to pick up. The range of models on offer was reduced as smaller selling ones were culled. Bigger sellers also suffered as it appears that the brand moved toward a more profitable pricing structure.

In 2014, things improved slightly and leveled off. The current situation is 1.5% of the total sales which is not large for what is a mainstream brand. What surprised me is that out of all this emerged a van as the leading selling model. It's sold as the Multispace.

Summary: Car buyers in Germany are strongly in favour with brands associated with the country in some way. On top of that, this is a price sensitive country and that is something this brand isn't interested in selling on. Due to factors such as these, Citroën has settled down as a fringe brand in the German market.

MODEL/YEAR	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
BERLINGO	11,824	11,112	11,182	9,944	9,109	9,520	10,722
C4	12,252	16,420	12,687	10,657	12,977	10,603	10,565
C3	16,619	11,742	10,315	7,608	9,922	6,689	8,446
C1	10,805	9,098	7,463	4,903	5,029	7,965	7,355
C4 CACTUS	-	-	-	-	1,981	6,272	5,550
JUMPER	745	850	1,039	1,220	1,517	2,116	3,634
C5	7,219	5,542	4,487	2,935	2,242	1,609	1,509
JUMPY	853	952	1,188	1,111	1,393	1,176	556
C-ELYSEE	-	-	-	-	-	-	275
C8	747	629	405	286	105	-	-
NEMO	748	407	241	149	35	-	-
C-ZERO	-	200	454	276	-	-	-
C-CROSSER	1,072	507	256	-	-	-	-
C6	105	69	134	-	-	-	-
C2	388	-	-	-	-	-	-
OTHER	28	38	97	116	50	26	114
TOTAL	63,405	57,566	49,948	39,205	44,360	45,976	48,726
SHARE	2.2%	1.8%	1.6%	1.3%	1.5%	1.4%	1.5%

Data source: KBA.

Toyota UK Sales 2010-16 (by model)

Toyota had a good decade previously in the UK, yet it's share slipped during the six years of this period under discussion. To find the problem isn't obvious at first. Only the medium large Avensis model fell substantially. However, the overall market in the UK was very strong for sales and while Toyota didn't lose sales, they didn't grow fully with the market.

I think Toyota was simply not aggressive enough. Discounting to buy share isn't smart and that wasn't what they did. Increasing your share of the pie is best achieved through product. The new C-HR arrived late 2016 and that has styling that was clearly aimed at the likes of the Nissan Juke. Nissan did it right with that model so why not take a leaf out of their book?

Summary: Japanese car companies have become far too conservative for European tastes. Toyota is starting to wake up from its dozed state and is looking at producing a more exciting range. That will work for sure, if they can hold their nerve. Fortune favours the brave.

Mod/Yr	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Yaris	21,965	17,861	29,974	31,153	31,160	33,196	30,402
Aygo	13,601	14,231	16,049	16,262	20,620	24,543	23,386
Auris	12,718	11,469	9,876	16,215	19,109	18,951	16,528
Rav4	5,196	4,686	4,030	7,174	7,580	6,905	8,562
Prius	10,537	6,513	4,716	2,793	2,443	3,361	5,311
Avensis	11,276	8,164	8,632	5,384	5,208	5,236	5,133
Verso	4,290	4,944	3,613	3,720	3,477	3,624	3,840
Prius +	-	-	827	1,108	818	1,144	1,184
L Cruiser	1,421	999	836	540	787	745	751
GT86	-	-	1,435	1,772	1,042	775	681
C-HR	-	-	-	-	-	-	509
Prius P In	21	3	428	509	379	270	96
Mirai	-	-	-	-	-	4	8
L Crus V8	456	606	784	556	470	298	1
iQ	4,468	2,869	2,675	1,464	920	10	-
Urb Cruis	1,464	1,236	679	3	-	-	-
Total	87,413	73,581	84,554	88,653	94,013	99,062	96,392
Share	4.3%	3.8%	4.1%	3.9%	3.8%	3.7%	3.6%

Data source: Toyota UK. A big thanks for them in being so generous with their data. It would be nice if others were too. The publicity doesn't do any harm either.

To go to the first in the series, simply click here.