Still far from the pre-Covid level, the average utilization rate of European factories in 2023 has slightly increased to reach 67%. That said, sixteen sites have a frequency above 90%.
With 273,788 units produced in 2023, the Toyota plant in Onnaing, France, has a utilization rate of more than 90%. ©Toyota
After posting an average utilization rate close to 80% in 2017, 2018 and 2019, European passenger car and light commercial vehicle factories were logically affected by the Covid-19 crisis in 2020, and the semiconductor crisis in 2021, before the war in Ukraine also disrupted 2022. Enough to bring the average utilization rate down to 61-62% over these three years.
2023 was therefore an almost calm year in comparison and the utilization rate rose to 67% according to the firm Innovation.
We are still far from the 80% recorded before 2020. The weakness of the recovery is an explanation such as the transition of certain sites to electricity production with a lower volume.
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During these three difficult years, four factories closed in Europe, including two Honda sites (Swindon in England and Gebze in Turkey) and two Nissan sites (in Barcelona and Alvila in Spain).
However, this average rate of 67% in 2023 logically hides disparities, because sixteen factories in Europe display a utilization rate greater than or equal to 90%.
We can note a strong presence of the VW group, with the sites of Stuttgart (Porsche) in Germany, Kvasiny (Skoda) in the Czech Republic, Gyor (Audi/VW) in Hungary, and Pamplona (VW) in Spain. Mercedes and BMW are also well placed.
As for Stellantis, the British factory in Luton (3e) is the only one in this ranking while the Renault group includes the French site of Maubeuge (59), 8eand that of Dacia in Romania, in Pitesti (16e). Another French site is in this list: the Toyota site in Onnaing (59), 4ewhich flirts with 100%.
