Archive for December 1st, 2009
Last year at the same time, the French automobile factories were preparing to enter into a long hibernation. Most sites of PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault have lowered the curtain for a month between December and early January. This year, thanks to scrap premiums introduced in Europe, the activity is markedly increased compared to the end of 2008 disaster.
The contrast is particularly clear in PSA, although the production levels of 2007 are still far away. Overall, the French manufacturer's sites will close down between Christmas and New Year's Day for the traditional week of vacation. The group enjoys the success of new models like the Peugeot 3008 or 206 + products in France. Only the plant in Rennes, specializes in upscale, undergo three days of partial unemployment in December.In total, the production of PSA increase of 33.6% in the fourth quarter 2009 over fourth quarter 2008, but remain in decline of 10.2% over the same period in 2007.
Renault also later, production was resumed. The group includes the diamond increased by 50% worldwide in the last quarter compared to 2008. But as the activity of plants was reduced by 45% this time last year, the manufacturer has not regained its pace of two years ago.
Partial unemployment in 2010
If the situation returned to normal on most sites the French Diamond, Douai and Sandouville turn even slow this season. The plant Sandouville near Le Havre, close to the total one week in early December, then to three weeks between December 19 and January 8.After discontinuation of the Vel Satis, it assembles more than the Laguna and Espace, penalized by the penalty green.
He has sold only 30 000 Laguna in France in the first ten months of the year (- 32%) and Area 7 100 (- 27%). Employees are worried, because on this site, where 1 300 jobs were eliminated recently, the assembly of a new model, a utility vehicle, which will begin "in the first half of 2013," said Patrick Pelata Friday, the CEO of Renault, and not, as previously announced, in 2012. Other affected site, Douai, in the North, which makes the Megane Scenic MPV. It will stop more than three weeks from December 17 to January 11.
For 2010, Renault do not expect a return to normal.The manufacturer provides on average 45 days of partial unemployment in its French factories, against 50 to 60 days in 2009, said Friday the CGT, relying on information management. The only consolation, according to an internal agreement, employees of Renault partial unemployment has reached 100% of their salary this year.
This caution is linked to cessation of car scrapping or reducing them next year. The sales may still decline by 6 to 8% in Western Europe in 2010 after an expected decline of 5% in 2009, according to rating agency Fitch Ratings.
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