The Volkswagen Group has reported a significant increase in battery electric vehicle (BEV) deliveries, with 141,000 vehicles handed over to customers worldwide in the first quarter of 2023. This represents a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2022, which was impacted by supply bottlenecks. The BEV share of total deliveries has also risen to 6.9%, up from 5.2% in the first three months of the previous year, according to VW.
Europe was the biggest growth driver for VW, with a 68% increase in BEV deliveries to 98,300 vehicles. The company’s BEV order book in Western Europe stands at more than 260,000 vehicles. China was the second-largest BEV market after Europe for the group, with 21,500 e-cars (or 15% of global BEV deliveries) handed over to customers. The USA came in third with a share of 11% or 15,700 vehicles. Notably, VW almost doubled its results from the same quarter last year in terms of the number of e-vehicles in the USA.
When broken down by brand, the VW passenger car brand accounted for almost half of the 141,000 BEVs delivered, with 70,000 vehicles. Audi accounted for another quarter with 34,600 vehicles, followed by Skoda (12,400 vehicles, 9% group share), Seat/Cupra (9,200 vehicles, 6%), Porsche (9,200 vehicles, 6%), and VW Commercial Vehicles with 5,500 vehicles and a group share of 4%.
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In terms of models, the VW ID.4/ID.5 duo was the most popular in the first quarter, with 41,900 units delivered. The VW ID.3 came in second place (23,600 deliveries), followed by the Audi Q4 e-tron (including Sportback) with 21,300 units. All 12,400 deliveries from Skoda were accounted for by the Enyaq and its coupé offshoot since Skoda currently only offers these as BEV models. The Audi e-tron and Q8 e-tron (also including the Sportback) came in fifth place with 9,700 vehicles.
VW Commercial Vehicles reported a noticeable increase in deliveries, from 700 to 5,500 units year-on-year, due to the start of deliveries of the ID. Buzz. However, Taycan production continues to suffer from supply bottlenecks, which is why Porsche is the only passenger car brand in the group to be slightly in the red in Q1, with deliveries down 3.4%.
See also: Audi Reports Strong Growth in Q1 2023 Electric Car Sales, Representing 8.3% of Total Volume
Hildegard Wortmann, member of the Extended Group Management for Sales, expressed optimism about the company’s prospects for BEVs, stating: “We started the year on a sound footing for all-electric vehicles with a 68% increase in Europe and double the number of vehicles delivered in the USA. The Volkswagen ID.7, which has just been unveiled, will give us further tailwind in all core markets. We will keep our sights on our ambitious goal of BEVs accounting for around one in ten vehicles delivered globally to customers this year.
