Automarkt: VW verbucht deutliches Plus bei E-Auto-Verkäufen in China

Volkswagen recorded a significant surge in sales of electric vehicles in China, despite intense competition and weak demand. In October, the brand sold more than 28,000 new energy vehicles (NEVs), marking a 347% increase compared to the same month last year, the company announced in Beijing, calling it a record figure. NEVs in China include fully electric and hybrid cars.

The surge is attributed to the fact that Volkswagen introduced 11 new NEV models this year, with two more expected to follow. For comparison, BYD, a key competitor, sold 250,301 NEVs in China in October according to the Chinese Passenger Car Association (CPCA). Volkswagen aims to become one of the top ten NEV brands in China by 2027, the company's head in China, Robert Cisek, said.

China is crucial for Volkswagen as the brand's European parent companies not only generate a significant portion of their revenue but also develop new models faster and cheaper due to location advantages. Volkswagen has been under pressure due to intense competition and weak demand from Chinese brands that offer electric cars at competitive prices.

Earlier, the China chief of the VW group, Ralf Brandstätter, described the market as "in free fall". At the end of October, the company reported a 30% drop in sales of its group in China for the first nine months of the year, with 27.3% fewer cars sold compared to the previous year. Many companies are trying to improve their business through exports, with Volkswagen announcing a 68.2% increase in auto exports.

The car exports are also planned to serve markets such as the Global South from China in the future.