Photo: Volkswagen
German carmaker Volkswagen is looking to get back on track as far as its operations in China are concerned, targeting twice as many EV sales in 2022 than they had last year, despite an ongoing shortage of semiconductors.
The brand’s ID series, which V-Dub produces at its Chinese joint ventures with SAIC Motor and the FAW Group, is extremely important to their sales goals, especially in the People’s Republic, which is still the world’s largest car market.
According to Reuters, VW missed its goal of selling between 80,000 and 100,000 electric cars in China last year, only managing to move a total of 70,625 units as production was affected not only by regional COVID-19 outbreaks, but also chip shortages.
VW China boss Stephan Wollenstein insists that doubling those numbers is still their target, although achieving it “is not currently secured by the semiconductor supplies that we currently see.” However, he still stated that he was “pretty positive that we will see a doubling of actual sales.”
Overall, the VW Group, which also owns brands such as Audi, Lamborghini and Porsche, sold a total of 3.3 million vehicles in China last year – down 14% from the year before. The company now plans to boost that number by a further 15%, roughly 500,000 units in 2022.
What’s interesting is that the Chinese EV market is actually dominated by Chinese brands, such as BYD and Wuling, and while Tesla is ranked third in terms of sales, it is still the only foreign brand in the top 10.
“You don’t see Volkswagen. Players like Volkswagen, GM and Toyota have fallen far behind in China’s smart EV race,” said Bill Russo, head of consultancy Automobility in Shanghai. He went on to add that roughly 15% of all passenger cars purchased in China last year (through November) were either battery electric or plug-in hybrids.
In November of 2021, EV sales accounted for 21% of the country’s overall passenger car sales.
According to Reuters, VW missed its goal of selling between 80,000 and 100,000 electric cars in China last year, only managing to move a total of 70,625 units as production was affected not only by regional COVID-19 outbreaks, but also chip shortages.
VW China boss Stephan Wollenstein insists that doubling those numbers is still their target, although achieving it “is not currently secured by the semiconductor supplies that we currently see.” However, he still stated that he was “pretty positive that we will see a doubling of actual sales.”
Overall, the VW Group, which also owns brands such as Audi, Lamborghini and Porsche, sold a total of 3.3 million vehicles in China last year – down 14% from the year before. The company now plans to boost that number by a further 15%, roughly 500,000 units in 2022.
What’s interesting is that the Chinese EV market is actually dominated by Chinese brands, such as BYD and Wuling, and while Tesla is ranked third in terms of sales, it is still the only foreign brand in the top 10.
“You don’t see Volkswagen. Players like Volkswagen, GM and Toyota have fallen far behind in China’s smart EV race,” said Bill Russo, head of consultancy Automobility in Shanghai. He went on to add that roughly 15% of all passenger cars purchased in China last year (through November) were either battery electric or plug-in hybrids.
In November of 2021, EV sales accounted for 21% of the country’s overall passenger car sales.
Google News