22 May 2018

Fiat Italy (Model) : 2012-17


Fiat is a mainstream brand fighting in an area where competition is high and profits are a challenge, especially in Europe. In its home market, Fiat takes slightly more than 20% share. That's a good result although whether that is achieved with reasonable margins I don't know.

The tiny Panda is the big volume model, then comes the 500 variants and the compact Tipo. The Punto is on the way out and the rest are small in volume. Fiat specialise in small models and a larger car would be a welcome edition to the range, although in Italy it wouldn't be a big seller. Perhaps a collaboration such as the 124 Spider could be useful.

The figures below include the Abarth range.

Model/Year 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012
Panda/Seiciento 146,062 147,360 127,460 105,255 101,681 117,772
500 58,564 49,329 44,179 45,676 42,322 43,012
Tipo/Bravo/a/Stilo 56,060 31,612 839 1,917 6,203 10,983
500L 46,461 54,748 51,837 52,729 38,229 6,159
500X 45,795 46,240 32,587 97

Punto 37,265 45,239 58,295 59,266 64,200 80,035
Qubo 10,047 8,984 6,978 6,873 8,957 10,781
Doblò 3,592 3,823 4,014 2,645 3,383 3,617
124 Spider 2,022 965



Freemont/Ulysse
1,436 5,703 8,494 10,681 14,417
Sedici

29 1,377 3,097 4,850
Idea


16 2,878
Other 11 13 3 9 21 8
Total 405,879 389,749 331,924 284,338 278,790 294,512
% of total 20.4% 21.1% 20.9% 20.7% 21.2% 20.8%

19 May 2018

Human Nature & Driving

When a human is driving a car, they have their hands on the steering wheel, feeling the car react as the wheel is used. The pedals on the floor also cause fluctuations in velocity. The human is then connected to the job at hand and is fully involved. Of course distractions, over confidence and other factors can intervene, which can lead to accidents. However, a driver feeling the car respond to inputs they make keeps the person engaged.

We are seeing cars being released to the public with Autopilot. They work well on aeroplanes although used for the boring flying parts. I've seen videos showing a pilot asleep while the plane is in autopilot. So how do car drivers react to autopilot? I'm a human so I know.

Once the hands and feet disengage from the controls, the driver immediately starts to disengage from driving. It is impossible for a human to sit in a car, passively allowing the car to be driven for them and remain fully alert. They will not be able to react to a situation anywhere near as quickly and efficiently than they would if they were driving. Even the most alert passive driver will be affected, and the longer they are passive, the harder it will get.

Then there are those who won't remain passively alert at all. They will find other things to do. Read, text, snooze, turn to talk to other passengers, try to find something in their glove box, look at what's going on around them.

Amazingly, some people don't get this, or don't want to get it. They are the people behind making the car self driving. I've discussed some of the problems associated with that at other times (see under label "Safety') but this is focusing on Autopilot. Here is a recent case:

Reports state that a Tesla Model S that went through a red light and crashed into a stationary fire truck at high speed was in Autopilot mode. The driver told police she was looking at her phone prior to the collision and estimated her speed at 60 mph.

The company that makes the car warns drivers using this mode to remain alert and active and to be prepared to take action at any time. You couldn't make this up. No understanding of human nature with that instruction. How can you remain active while the car drives for you? Personally I wouldn't use Autopilot if my car had that feature. It doesn't work with a human driver. There are also too many variables with motoring. I like to keep control because I want to remain actively alert. I cannot do that while the car drives for me.

18 May 2018

BMW Group Plant Production : 2016-17


Production for the BMW Group was up 6% in 2017. Just under half of the total volume was in Germany's four facilities. It was over 50% until 2015 and over 60% in 2010. China is still just 16% but growing. There are plans to make the MINI in China too.

There are also plants that make components and the like but this list is for car making facilities. The operations in China are in co-operation with Brilliance China Automotive Holdings. The 'Other Plants' at the bottom of the chart are located in Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia and Russia.

Nation / Plant 2017 % +/-
2016 % +/-
BMW Group Plants
Germany 1,157,337 46.2% 1%
1,149,379 48.7% 3%
Dingolfing 376,580
339,769
Regensburg 338,259 346,291
Leipzig 246,043 246,550
Munich 196,455 216,769
China 396,749 15.8% 30% 305,726 13.0% 6%
Tiexi 269,309
161,901
Dadong 127,440 143,825
USA 371,316 14.8% -10% 411,171 17.4% 3%
Spartanburg 371,316
411,171
UK 227,125 9.1% 6% 215,150 9.1% 5%
Oxford 223,817
210,971
Goodwood 3,308 4,179
RSA 53,105 2.1% -16% 63,117 2.7% -12%
Rosslyn 53,105
63,117
Thailand 21,084 0.8% 18% 17,844 0.8% 100%
Rayong 21,084
17,844
Brazil 12,768 0.5% -17% 15,408 0.7% 55%
Araquari 12,768
15,408
India 8,952 0.4% 4% 8,568 0.4% 11%
Chennai 8,952
8,568
Partner Plants
Netherlands 168,969 6.7% 93%
87,609 3.7% 54%
Born 168,969
87,609
Austria 50,272 2.0% -6% 53,528 2.3% -35%
Graz 50,272
53,528
Other Plants 38,064 1.5 18% 32,256 1.4% 19%
Various 38,064
32,256
Total 2,505,741
6%
2,359,756
4%

Data source: BMW Group

13 May 2018

Lynk & Co vs Lincoln


My wife doesn't have much interest in cars, unless it's a nice colour. So I decided to tell her about the new Lynk & Co brand and how it sounds similar to Lincoln. Because Lincoln isn't a brand sold in NZ, I was going to have to give an explanation to make it clear.

I started off by saying "There is a new brand out called Lynk & Co..." Before I could say anymore see said "Don't you mean Lincoln?" I didn't even know she knew the brand but see immediately she said that it was confusing to have them sound so similar.

Apparently Ford wasn't happy either. However, while making some noise about it a while back, I've heard nothing more and the brand name is still being bandied about by owner Geely. I know you would never get a Chinese court to ever rule in your favour over something like this but it is going to be used internationally. Perhaps it's not worth ruffling Chinese feathers over it.

The premium market is a tough market to crack if you haven't got an established and reputable name. Going in with a name that sounds similar may be seen as a way round that problem. However, taking sales off other brands that are already successful won't be easy. Because  it's being done without regard for an already established name, I'm hoping it will be the flop. In my opinion, it deserves nothing less.

01 May 2018

Lotus Production By Model : 1966 - 2016


This is a new article on the subject with a wider coverage and greater accuracy (I hope). The previous article can be found by clicking here. I've kept the older one because it was so popular that Google searches will find it before this update.

I barely squeezed the data into the space width-wise but I managed. The new data goes back to 1966 and ends in 2016. A bit more research clarified some anomalies so hopefully it is as accurate as can be reasonably achieved. The green shading is for the biggest number for a particular year.

I've always been a fan of Lotus cars but have never even been in one, let alone driven one. However, I recall having a Europa model car years ago and loved the lines. I've always thought the cars were beautifully styled.

Yr Evora Elise Exige Europ Esprit 340R Elan Excel Eclat Elite 7 Total
66 - - - - - - 80 - - - 26 106
67 - - - 443 - - 1378 - - - 164 1985
68 - - - 744 - - 1914 - - - 390 3048
69 - - - 1619 - - 2306 - - - 581 4506
70 - - - 1529 - - 1703 - - - 141 3373
71 - - - 1315 - - 1126 - - - 241 2682
72 - - - 1782 - - 1116 - - - 98 2996
73 - - - 1776 - - 916 - - 6 130 2828
74 - - - 622 - - 137 - - 687 - 1446
75 - - - 57 - - - - 20 459 - 536
76 - - - - 134 - - - 341 451 - 926
77 - - - - 580 - - - 280 210 - 1070
78 - - - - 553 - -
354 293 - 1200
79 - - - - 474 - -
281 276 - 1031
80 - - - - 137 - - - 121 125 - 383
81 - - - - 301 - - - 31 13 - 345
82 - - - - 365 - - - 162 14 - 541
83 - - - - 427 - - - 214 1 - 642
84 - - - - 522 - - - 315 - - 837
85 - - - - 451 - - 130 232 - - 813
86 - - - - 454 - - 249 - - - 703
87 - - - - 462 - - 337 - - - 799
88 - - - - 1056 - - 244 - - - 1300
89 - - - - 877 - - 183 - - - 1060
90 - - - - 779 - 1250 113 - - - 2142
91 - - - - 99 - 2060 81 - - - 2240
92 - - - - 181 - 495 15 - - - 691
93 - - - - 320 - - - - - - 320
94 - - - - 368 - 342 - - - - 710
95 - - - - 385 - 458 - - - - 843
96 - 425 - - 319 - - - - - - 744
97 - 2155 - - 279 - - - - - - 2434
98 - 3032 - - 301 - - - - - - 3333
99 - 3164 - - 210 - - - - - - 3374
00 - 1800 499 - 222 340 - - - - - 2861
01 - 1917 105 - 101 - - - - - - 2123
02 - 2369 - - 157 - - - - - - 2526
03 - 1609 3 - 119 - - - - - - 1731
04 - 2674 522 - 16 - - - - - - 3212
05 - 4243 810 - - - - - - - - 5053
06 - 1574 1291 197 - - - - - - - 3062
07 - 1357 1094 179 - - - - - - - 2630
08 - 1439 619 48 - - - - - - - 2106
09 378 802 410 28 - - - - - - - 1618
10 1172 921 514 6 - - - - - - - 2613
11 713 592 153 - - - - - - - - 1458
12 480 516 47 - - - - - - - - 1043
13 475 417 477 - - - - - - - - 1369
14 251 617 624 - - - - - - - - 1492
15 404 537 724 - - - - - - - - 1665
16 475 409 378 - - - - - - - - 1262
To 4348 32569 8270 10345 10649 340 15281 1352 2351 2535 1771 89811
Yr Evora Elise Exige Europ Esprit 340R Elan Excel Eclat Elite 7 Total

Picture source: Netcarshow.