Top EV Automotive Groups

BYD Qin in Uruguay

Picking up on an article published in June, the Top 10 Automotive EV Groups reflected the total volume of plug-ins sold by each Manufacturing Group, but to put that into context, i have decided to compare it with this year Automotive EV Groups:

		Sales '15	%	Total Sales	%
	Renault-Nissan	44,003	18	265,205	27
	VW (VAG)	28,480	12	42,743	4
	BYD	25,592	11	51,338	5
	Tesla	24,867	10	83,587	9
	Mitsubishi	24.117	10	108,883	11
	BMW	15,469	6	31,822	3
	Ford	11,548	5	65,696	7
	GM	11,617	4	100,818	10

A few facts are visible here:

- If the Renault-Nissan Alliance continues to lead, the fact is that they are losing ground to the competition;

- Volkswagen Group and BYD are surging and closing in on the Alliance, VAG is a particularly dangerous competitor, considering their deep pockets and powerful R&D skills, question is, will they get serious on plug-ins?

- Tesla is riding the plug-in wave, Ford is starting to lose ground, due the lack of new products to fight all the newcomers coming in;

- BMW's bet on the i sub-brand is being rewarded with an important role in the EV scene, and with a bunch of PHEV versions coming to the regular lineup, the german brand can only see its share grow;

- Finally, GM. The early bet on the Chevy Volt lifted it to a leading role in the early days (Chevrolet was the Best-Selling brand in 2012), but the other offerings from GM failed to succeed, be it because of limited production/diffusion (Chevy Spark EV) or outlandish prices (Cadillac ELR), that together with the early sales decline of the Volt and current generation change, lead GM this year to be far from the top places and has an eye on bullish chinese carmakers (Geely Group, BAIC, Zotye, etc) and even the latest plug-in enthusiast, Daimler-Mercedes, to retain its current #8.

(An important absence here is Toyota, #4 in historical volumes, but only #13 this year...)

Looking at the numbers in a different way, grouping sales by the carmakers origin, two surprising facts appear:

- This year, China is the largest maker of plug-ins...

- ...And Germany is the Third largest EV maker, ahead of the US!

		Sales '15	%	Total Sales	%
	China	61,637	25	135,921	14
	Japan	57,813	24	380,910	39
	Germany	50,558	21	96,380	9
	USA	47,279	19	251,082	26
	France	14,803	6	92,289	9

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Peugeot Fractal concept

Peugeot has unveiled the new Fractal concept ahead of the Frankfurt Motor Show. This is an electric urban coupé which explores the sense of hearing in addition to sight and touch. According to Peugeot, it makes driving "even more instinctive, creating an unparalleled on-board experience".

It was designed by StelLab, a PSA Peugeot Citroën research unit. The Fractal concept was developed in partnership with sound designer Amon Tobin. It features a high-definition holographic head-up display screen. A 45-degree polycarbonate strip delivers additional information and creates an impression of depth. This allows the driver to customise the way information is shown.

The concept also explores new design and manufacturing processes. 3D-printed parts represent more than 80% of the interior trim surface. The anechoic materials were made through generative design - a process used to achieve the perfect component.

A 30 kW/h lithium-ion battery powers two electric motors, each delivering 75kW/102hp, fitted to the front and rear axles to provide a total output of 125 kW/170hp and combined-cycle autonomy of up to 450km. Variable ground clearance allows the vehicle to adapt to different types of terrain. The 7cm clearance for motorway driving improves aerodynamics to range and boost battery life. This can be increased to 11cm in urban environments, allowing the car to take speed humps and car park entrances in its stride.

As for it's dimension, the car is extremely compact, at 3.81m long and 1.77m wide, allowing it to weave through heavy traffic. The 19‑inch Tall&Narrow wheels are positioned at either end of the car, with an overhang of just 0.52m front and back to improve manoeuvrability.

The car styling features dynamic lines that flow along the length of the smooth body. The Coupe Franche, a straight line dual paint finish, further enhances the sense of vitality with a sharp shift from intense pearly white to matt black at the door hinges. The upper body features a removable roof to turn the coupé into a cabriolet. An LED strip above the vent at the rear shows the battery charge status via an equalizer-type display. These LEDs also act as rear lights when PEUGEOT FRACTAL is moving. The light signature in the front starts below the grille and flows over the headlamps. It also includes scrolling indicators.

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