The European new car market has registered a 7.7% increase in units delivered, from 9.38 million in 2015 to 10.11 million between January and August 2016. In terms of segments, the SUVs lead the ranking with a 26% market share, and a 23% increase in delivered units compared to the previous year.

As the number of registrations grow, new launches are expected in many segments at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, a highlight of the automotive industry’s calendar. New entries at this edition include the new Audi Q5, which will compete with the popular Mercedes GLC and the Volvo XC60. Big focus at the show, the SUV category will count with significant launches such as the show-car BMW X2 and the new Land Rover Discovery. The premium traditional segment will be also updated with the launch of the new Porsche Panamera.

On the Italian front, the spider version of the Ferrari LaFerrari is much anticipated. This model is said to be entering a lucrative segment, where the average unit price registered during H1 2016 was €150,000 and the segment itself is expected to grow by up to 43,400 units by the year 2020. Ferrari is a key player with almost 2,600 units registered in 2015, and 2,166 units registered during the first eight months of this year.

Mercedes is also expanding its offer with the new AMG GT Roadster – a serious rival to the Porsche 911 Cabriolet. This new car joins an already large range of sports cars made by Mercedes.

The Paris Motor Show takes place October 1-16, 2016 in Paris, France. The day after the show closes, ILM will be hosting the Automotive Leather Supply Chain Europe conference at the elegant 5-star, Le Meurice hotel in central Paris’s rue du Rivoli, featuring leading companies and speakers representing the entire automotive leather supply chain.

Confirmed programme speakers to date include:

  • Henning Gathmann, Material Development, Leather – Audi
  • AGFlorian Schrey, Vice-President of Global Design – GST Seton AutoLeather
  • Valerio Garcia, GTS Leather Team Leader – Faurecia
  • Andreas Kindermann, CEO – Wollsdorf Leder
  • Dr Jens Fennen, R&D Director – TFL Ledertechnik
  • Roy Shurling, Global Business Developer, Automotive Leather – Lectra
  • Michael Costello, Director of Sustainability – Stahl

The conference is lead sponsored by Stahl, Lectra and TFL. Major global leather makers, JBS Couros, are also sponsors and it is in association theSauerReport.com. Please click here to find out more.