Eight of the 13 new car model launches at next week’s Paris Motor Show will be SUVs as manufacturers look towards the sector’s boom product segment to negotiate Brexit uncertainty.

A white paper report, prepared by Jato Dynamics ahead of next month’s (October 4 to 14) event, revealed that premium manufacturers were set to take the lead in gaining “visibility over mainstream counterparts” as they unveil products which demonstrated a continued focus on SUVs and EVs.

Jato said in a statement attached to its Paris Motor Show 2018 white paper: “Carmakers are continuing to build their SUV offer by launching more affordable SUVs at the bottom of the segment, and lighter and sportier models at the top of the segment.

“One of the major headlines from the Paris Motor Show will be the arrival of the big premium car makers to the electric vehicle market.

“Both the Audi e-Tron and the Mercedes EQC are the first standalone fully electric models of the brands.”

Jato highlighted the new Audi A1 as one of the biggest launch stories from further down the value chain at the show. 

The previous generation found more than 870,000 owners following its launch in 2010 and the new version will aim to build on that success.  

Jato said that the 2018 Paris Motor Show comes at a time when the European automotive industry is facing major challenges in the shape of the introduction of WLTP, trade tensions in the US, and the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

It added: “In the face of these challenges, car makers have been relying on the SUV boom to maintain growth, which is unsurprising given that SUVs have been the only significant driver of growth in the market for many months now.

“And although there are concerns over the segment showing one of the largest discrepancies between NEDC tested and correlated values, carmakers are continuing to build their SUV offer by launching more affordable SUVs at the bottom of the segment, and lighter and sportier models at the top of the segment.”

Among the other SUVs to be launched at the October motor show will be DS Automobiles’ DS 3 Crossback, the Suzuki Jimny, a new Audi Q3, the Seat Tarraco, and new iterations of the Mercedes-Benz GLE Class and BMW X5.