Volkswagen have just reported its sales figures for 2022 – with another bumper year for battery electric vehicles (BEV), if not for internal combustion engine cars (ICE).
BEV sales were up by 23.6% compared to 2021, with total VW BEV sales of around 330,000 vehicles worldwide. Of these, the ID.4 was VW’s best-selling model with around 170,000 sales.
China was also VW’s best growth market – of VW’s 330,000 global BEV sales, some 143,100 ID.3, ID.4 and ID.6 models were sold in China in 2022, a 102.9% year-on-year. US sales of the ID.4 in 2022 were also up 27.7%.
The ID.4 was also the bestselling car in Sweden – across all drive types. This made an ID. model the top-selling car in Sweden for the third year in a row (2020: ID.3; 2021: ID.4).
By the end of 2022, VW also reach another milestone. Since September 2020 (when the first ID.3 was handed over to the first customer) over 580,000 MEB electric platform based BEVs have now been built.
Currently the ID family include the ID.3, ID.4 (both hopefully to arrive in Australia this year), ID.5, ID.6 (ID.6 is a currently only sold in China) and ID Buzz.
However, a new addition to the ID. Family was revealed last week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. This was a (still partially camouflaged) ID.7 large sedan.
Imelda Labbé, Board Member for Sales, Marketing and After Sales said Volkswagen is stepping up the pace of its electric campaign with ten new electric models by 2026.
“Volkswagen already has the broadest portfolio of electric models. By 2026, the brand will have the right product in every segment, from the entry-level e-car with a target price of under €25,000 (Au$39,000) to the new flagship ID.72,” she said.
As an interesting counterpoint, whilst VW BEV sales were well up on 2021, overall VW sales declined in 2022 to 4.56 million vehicles (down 6.8% on 2021).
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.