This week's snippets of automotive news include news on the Vinfast A2.0 saloon launch, the new Suzuki Jimny and Peugeot's chief executive on new WLTP emissions testing.
Peugeot's chief executive on WLTP:
Peugeot chief executive Jean-Philippe Imparato took a dig at other manufacturers’ homologation delays and unsold models due to the recently adopted Worldwide harmonised Light vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) emissions legislation. He said: “We didn’t have to stop production. We didn’t have to store stock. We didn’t have to buy airports to park loads of unsold cars in. We were ready.”
Vinfast A2.0 saloon launch:
Vietnamese car manufacturer Vinfast wheeled out David Beckham to launch its new A2.0 saloon and SA2.0 SUV at Paris – but we reckon they missed a trick. Given Kia got Robert de Niro to endorse the Kia e-Niro, surely Vinfast should have signed up actor Vin Diesel rather than the footballer?
The new Suzuki Jimny:
Suzuki’s UK boss Dale Wyatt says it has had 4500 people sign up on its website as “interested” in the new Jimny, a first for the brand. That’s 150% of the previous model’s best annual volume. The problem for Suzuki is going to be the number it can build, because demand in Japan has been “staggering”. Wyatt is looking at 1100 cars in the first year and then 2000 per year thereafter.
Read more
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2019 Suzuki Jimny makes appearance at Paris motor show
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new jimny
Suzuki tied up with VW in a supposed betterment of both groups on an equal standing. As normal VW wanted full control with no handing over of any development. Suzuki helped on design of small lightweight cars. VW wanted full control. Suzuki were not in financial trouble but wanted access to electric development. Suzuki now have an agreement with Toyota and already have a fleet of 50 new generation Wagon R full electric models on test in India. With plug in Vitara and S Cross models coming in 2020 Suzuki are on a push onwards and upwards. Suzuki's new Jimny already getting massive sales in Japan. It also has big volume bookings in other markets. Its designed for a purpose and will do as it says on the box as all Suzuki's do. As for LR, the new Defender will not be the inexpensive go anywhere that the Jimny is. It'll be a posemobile as all LR RR are, and at the side of the road bonnet up and someone shaking their head !!!!!!
Land Rover - are you reading?
Land Rover - are you reading? Another missed opportunity. Remember the original Freelander (though admittedly it wasn't 4WD, and perhaps that was the start of the LR decline)? If you had kept that going as a simple small 4x4 then who knows? But no, you kept going forever upmarket. Now, whose profits are soaring (even before the Jimny was released) and whose are falling? And I see Moody's expects JLR profits to continue falling. JLR keeps blaming Brexit, but analysts say there's far more wrong with JLR than that! A profit margin now of just 3.8% (typically German cars run at 9%) should ring alarm bells for Tata. Moody's state that the principal problems are the high investment JLR needs and the failure to see the diesel death coming (90% of JLR's sales in 2017 were diesel!!!). As usual then, mismanagement - which is something I've been pointing out for years. JLR's earnings before interest & tax is just 0.27%...despite all the new models. Will there still be a JLR in 20 years at this rate? Seriously, I doubt it. The future is small SUVs and 4x4s like, oh, the Jimny!
Not so sure
I thought suzuki were in serious financial issues just a few years ago hence the disastrous partnership with VW being forced on them ? You may remember that the original RR sport had the highest margins of any vehicle produced in the world , and JLR went thru the 2008 recession better and healthier to record fantastic profits . All car companies have ups and downs , BMW almost bankrupt in the 60s , Porsche in the 90s etc etc , I think it's foolish to write off a whole company off the back of diesel gate , which lets remember was caused by our ever so honest German friends ...
Neither did they see diesel coming.
That's in addition to, under Ford management, failing to see the diesel boom coming in the first place. Hence one of the reasons why the much-maligned X-Type failed to sell. Only thirsty 3 litre petrol 4x4s initially - diesels, and finally diesel automatics only came towards the end.
That bloke wrote:
You may go, but you don't stay away...how ignorant that you don't read responses to your posts...then you won't read that I call you an uncivilised, closed minded, self important idiot.
We would have bought a Vitara
But no U.K. stock any where.