Which car brands will see the most growth in the next 5 year
Discussion
In terms of UK sales and market share, which car brands do you think will see the biggest growth in the next 5 years.
The last 25 years have been interesting times in the UK car market. We have seen the decline of Ford and Vauxhall (in terms of market share not product quality) and the demise of Rover, the rise and fall of Renault, Peugeot and Citroen and more recently the rise of the German brands (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW) and Hyundai and Kia in the budget market.
I expect to see the Germans and Hyundai and Kia continue to do well but can`t really see Hyundai or Kia successfully expanding into the luxury market.
The budget market is an interesting one. If a car is fit for purpose, of decent enough quality and cheap enough then it should always be able to sell but I don`t see this area of the market growing significantly, as people in the UK don`t want larger cars with budget badges.
Perhaps Dacia, although they already make a small car and an SUV. What else can they make. A cheap 7-seat MPV possibly. Fiat possibly, if they can do what MINI have done with their 500 brand. We already have the 500, 500C and 500L and now the 500X. This is the shame though, as Fiat made some great cars prior to the 500 (Uno, Tipo, Coupe, barchetta etc).
I see the biggest area of growth being in the luxury car market. I can`t be the only one who would like a decent alternative to the ubiquity of a 3-Series or 5-Series, A4 or A6 or a C-Class or E-Class.
I hope Jaguar do well with the forthcoming XE (I think that would be my pick over a 3-Series, A4 or C-Class) and the much hyped Jaguar SUV turns out to be decent and sells well.
How about Lexus and Infiniti. They certainly have the ability to make some of the best cars in the world (original LS400 and LFA) and GTR. The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept looks intriguing too. They certainly have the potential for engineering excellence and could challenge the overrated quality, reliability and customer service of Audi, BMW and Mercedes. I certainly don`t think that they are any less handsome or any more bland than their German rivals. They need to raise their game a bit though, especially in terms of engine technology. It baffles me that Lexus no longer make a diesel IS. Some estates would be a good idea too.
Tesla are quite intriguing. If they can replicate the Model S but in a 3-Series size and for less money, then they might be on to something.
Don`t laugh but how about GM bringing Cadillac back to the UK. Yes, I know that they have tried (and failed) before but Cadillac (and Buick) do very well in North America and now have a much better quality, highly regarded product with a range of very well-equipped RWD or AWD saloons and SUVs. They might have some success with the ATS (3-Series), CTS (5-Series) and SRX (X3). All they need is a decent diesel option.
What car brands do you expect to grow in the next 5 years.
The last 25 years have been interesting times in the UK car market. We have seen the decline of Ford and Vauxhall (in terms of market share not product quality) and the demise of Rover, the rise and fall of Renault, Peugeot and Citroen and more recently the rise of the German brands (BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW) and Hyundai and Kia in the budget market.
I expect to see the Germans and Hyundai and Kia continue to do well but can`t really see Hyundai or Kia successfully expanding into the luxury market.
The budget market is an interesting one. If a car is fit for purpose, of decent enough quality and cheap enough then it should always be able to sell but I don`t see this area of the market growing significantly, as people in the UK don`t want larger cars with budget badges.
Perhaps Dacia, although they already make a small car and an SUV. What else can they make. A cheap 7-seat MPV possibly. Fiat possibly, if they can do what MINI have done with their 500 brand. We already have the 500, 500C and 500L and now the 500X. This is the shame though, as Fiat made some great cars prior to the 500 (Uno, Tipo, Coupe, barchetta etc).
I see the biggest area of growth being in the luxury car market. I can`t be the only one who would like a decent alternative to the ubiquity of a 3-Series or 5-Series, A4 or A6 or a C-Class or E-Class.
I hope Jaguar do well with the forthcoming XE (I think that would be my pick over a 3-Series, A4 or C-Class) and the much hyped Jaguar SUV turns out to be decent and sells well.
How about Lexus and Infiniti. They certainly have the ability to make some of the best cars in the world (original LS400 and LFA) and GTR. The Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge concept looks intriguing too. They certainly have the potential for engineering excellence and could challenge the overrated quality, reliability and customer service of Audi, BMW and Mercedes. I certainly don`t think that they are any less handsome or any more bland than their German rivals. They need to raise their game a bit though, especially in terms of engine technology. It baffles me that Lexus no longer make a diesel IS. Some estates would be a good idea too.
Tesla are quite intriguing. If they can replicate the Model S but in a 3-Series size and for less money, then they might be on to something.
Don`t laugh but how about GM bringing Cadillac back to the UK. Yes, I know that they have tried (and failed) before but Cadillac (and Buick) do very well in North America and now have a much better quality, highly regarded product with a range of very well-equipped RWD or AWD saloons and SUVs. They might have some success with the ATS (3-Series), CTS (5-Series) and SRX (X3). All they need is a decent diesel option.
What car brands do you expect to grow in the next 5 years.
Do you mean growth in absolute number of units sold, or growth in relation to existing size?
Growth by percentage of current sales: Tesla.
Their 3-series competitor does not have to cost less than a 3-series. In fact they would be foolish to make it so cheap, given the large cost advantage it will bring its owners on taxation and fuelling.
Growth by percentage of current sales: Tesla.
Their 3-series competitor does not have to cost less than a 3-series. In fact they would be foolish to make it so cheap, given the large cost advantage it will bring its owners on taxation and fuelling.
If you look at the trends:
I don't think Nissan will grow necessarily, as they've already quite a good marketshare, and the Qashqai no longer looks the innovative modern vehicle it did at launch.
Audi sell a ridiculous number of cars and presumably their margins are high enough that they can price to sell. Mercedes and BMW are just behind and are big enough that they can lose a little market share to Range Rover without suffering too much.
- city cars - still only 3% of the market, but up from 1% 20 years ago - should keep growing
- small hatchbacks - growing steadily
- family hatchbacks - shrinking
- family saloons - in drastic decline
- executive saloons - in decline
- luxury saloons - now just 0.4% of the market
- SUV/CUV things - just keep growing, from 4% 20 years ago to 11% today
- MPVs - basically stable
- Hyundai and Kia - both have around 3% of the new car market, and room to grow with their small cars and sensibly priced crossovers.
- Land Rover/Range Rover - the Evoque should eat up some of the premium saloon market, and they have only 2% of the new car market, and the SUV market will just continue to grow.
- Skoda - same marketshare as Hyundai and Kia, and a full line up of good cars each one priced to sell (on PCP!)
I don't think Nissan will grow necessarily, as they've already quite a good marketshare, and the Qashqai no longer looks the innovative modern vehicle it did at launch.
Audi sell a ridiculous number of cars and presumably their margins are high enough that they can price to sell. Mercedes and BMW are just behind and are big enough that they can lose a little market share to Range Rover without suffering too much.
white_goodman said:
They need to raise their game a bit though, especially in terms of engine technology. It baffles me that Lexus no longer make a diesel IS.
On the contrary, I'd argue that the petrol hybrids that they offer instead will be the way most manufacturers will start to move in the not too distant future. I can certainly see diesels becoming less popular, especially with the EU's constant tirade against emissions.
white_goodman said:
I expect to see the Germans and Hyundai and Kia continue to do well but can`t really see Hyundai or Kia successfully expanding into the luxury market.
Maybe not luxury but I believe Hyundai are already expanding into the 'executive' market in the US.white_goodman said:
Don`t laugh but how about GM bringing Cadillac back to the UK. Yes, I know that they have tried (and failed) before but Cadillac (and Buick) do very well in North America and now have a much better quality, highly regarded product with a range of very well-equipped RWD or AWD saloons and SUVs. They might have some success with the ATS (3-Series), CTS (5-Series) and SRX (X3). All they need is a decent diesel option.
Ironic that Buick's big seller, the Regal, is now just a re-badged Vauxhall Insignia. Can't see Cadillac trying again after the failure of first the STS and then the rebadged SAABs.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff