In a striking turn of events, the sales of the Volkswagen ID.3 electric vehicle (EV) in China have witnessed a remarkable surge, soaring over threefold in comparison to the previous month. This surge is directly attributed to a shrewd strategic move made by SAIC-Volkswagen in early July, involving a substantial reduction in the vehicle’s price. The impact of this manoeuvre has been clearly reflected in the sales figures for July, where the Volkswagen ID.3 achieved a significant leap in sales, solidifying its position in the Chinese EV market.
SAIC-Volkswagen, the joint venture between SAIC and Volkswagen responsible for the Chinese iteration of the ID.3, implemented a strategic price reduction that saw the base price of the Volkswagen ID.3 plummet from 142,900 yuan to 119,900 yuan. This translates to a notable 16% decrease, bringing the starting price down from 19,800 USD to 16,600 USD.
See also: Volkswagen’s ID.3 Receives Over 10,000 Orders in China After Price Cuts
The outcome of this pricing adjustment became evident as the sales figures for July were unveiled. The Volkswagen ID.3 notched up a remarkable 7,378 units sold in China during this month, in stark contrast to the comparatively modest 1,819 units sold in June. This astonishing surge in sales, a staggering 305% increase from June to July, underscores the effectiveness of the price reduction strategy.
Of particular significance is the fact that the July sales figure for the ID.3 surpasses any monthly sales volume achieved by this model in the Chinese market throughout 2021, firmly marking this as a significant accomplishment.
The Chinese version of the ID.3, a product born out of the collaboration between SAIC and Volkswagen, is offered in two distinct configurations. The base version carries a price tag of 119,900 yuan (16,600 USD), while a higher-end variant is available at 149,900 yuan (20,800 USD). The Chinese iteration closely mirrors its European counterpart in terms of dimensions, measuring 4261 mm in length, 1778 mm in width, 1568 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2765 mm.
Beneath the surface, the ID.3 is propelled by a rear-mounted electric motor capable of delivering a peak power of 170 horsepower (125 kW) and a peak torque of 310 Nm. Its driving force is derived from a 57.3 kWh ternary lithium-ion battery pack, resulting in an impressive range of 450 km, as determined by China’s New Energy Vehicle Test Procedure (CLTC).
Volkswagen’s electric vehicle lineup in China predominantly revolves around its ID series, which encompasses models such as the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.6. During the same period, the ID.4 garnered sales of 4,031 units, while the ID.6 achieved sales of 1,513 units. The cumulative sales numbers of these models have translated into a robust performance for Volkswagen’s pure electric vehicles in China, with a cumulative sale of 12,922 units in July. This figure marks the strongest month for Volkswagen’s electric models in 2023 thus far.
