Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automobilwoche
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • Login
  • HOME
    • Latest news
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • New Product
    • Environment/Emissions
    • Sales By Market
    • On The Move
    • Auto Shows
    • Munich Auto Show
    • Geneva Auto Show
    • Paris Auto Show
    • Beijing Auto Show
    • Shanghai Auto Show
  • Features
    • Long Read
    • Interview of the Month
    • Focus on Electrification
    • Focus on Technology
    • Segment Analysis
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Europe By The Numbers
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Commentary
    • Guest columnists
  • Photos
    • Photo Galleries
    • Geneva Photo Gallery
    • Beijing Photo Gallery
    • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
    • Paris Photo Gallery
    • Shanghai Photo Gallery
  • Podcasts
  • Car Cutaways
  • EVENTS
    • ANE Congress
    • ANE Rising Stars
    • ANE Eurostars
  • More
    • Publishing Partners
    • Social Media
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • About Us
    • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
    • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
    • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
    • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
    • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
    • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
    • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
    • Toyota Europe
    • UFI Filters
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Automakers
January 12, 2022 06:00 AM

VW Group 's 2021 sales fell to lowest in 10 years on chip crunch

Volkswagen expects first half of 2022 to remain "highly volatile and challenging" due to supply bottlenecks for semiconductors

Nathan Eddy
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    VW ID4 blue

    The VW ID4 was the brand's most popular EV worldwide last year.

    BERLIN --  Volkswagen Group vehicle sales dropped to the lowest since 2011 last year after semiconductor shortages restricted production.

    Group deliveries fell fell 4.5 percent to 8.88 million in 2021, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

    Only Porsche and Seat showed growth among the group's car brands. Porsche's deliveries rose 11 percent and Seat sales were up 10 percent.

    VW brand's deliveries fell 8 percent, Audi's deliveries were down nearly 1 percent and Skoda sales dropped by 13 percent.

    VW brand's sales fell most in China, its biggest market, VW saw the biggest decline, with sales down 15 percent. Deliveries in western Europe, the brand's second largest market, fell 5 percent.

    "The lagging supply of semiconductors caused limitations in production throughout the course of the year, which ultimately had a major impact on the unit sales figures," VW's sales and marketing boss, Klaus Zellmer said.

    An order backlog of 543,000 vehicles in Europe alone, including 95,000 for VW brand's ID battery-electric cars "shows clearly that the demand for Volkswagen vehicles continues to be very high," Zellmer added.

    VW
    EV sales boom

    Booming sales of electric cars were a bright spot for the company.

    VW brand's global sales of full-electric or hybrid vehicles grew 73 percent to 369,000, amounting to 7.5 percent of total volume, up from 4 percent in 2020.

    Sales of full-electric cars increased to 263,000, up 97 percent compared with 2020. Deliveries of plug-in hybrids rose 33 percent to 106,000.

    In Europe, electrified vehicles accounted for just under 20 percent of VW brand's deliveries, up from 13 percent in 2020.

    "Volkswagen is continuing to press ahead with the transition to e-mobility despite the limited supply of semiconductors," said VW brand CEO Ralf Brandstaetter in the statement. "In a very short time, Volkswagen has reached a top position for BEVs in Europe," he said.

    VW brand's most popular battery-electric model worldwide was the ID4 compact crossover with 119,650 units sold, followed by the ID3 with sales of about 76,000.

    VW said it expects that the first half to remain "highly volatile and challenging" due to persistent supply bottlenecks for semiconductors. The focus in 2022 is to stabilize production as the year goes on and lower its high backlog of orders as quickly as possible.

    This year, the company expects to produce around 43 percent more vehicles at its main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, its works council boss, Daniela Cavallo, told the German newspaper Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung in December.

    However, Manager Magazin also reported in December that Volkswagen Group will still produce fewer cars in 2022 than in 2021, due to persistent semiconductor supply troubles. The automaker is preparing for the possibility that the current chips shortage could last until at least early 2023, the report said.

    Bloomberg and Reuters contributed to this report

    EUROPE BY THE NUMBERS NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our monthly newsletter delivering data and commentary on European sales, including sales by model, top models overall, and top models in major markets.
    Related Article
    VW aims to double EV sales in China this year after missing targets
    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Renault cedes power at Nissan for uncertain benefits
    Recommended for You
    Renault Nissan logos 2023
    Renault cedes power at Nissan for uncertain benefits
    BYD Han sedan
    BYD expects 2022 profit surge as sales jump
    Arrival has built test models and is due to launch production in 2022.r.
    EV startup Arrival slashes workforce; names new CEO
    Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sponsored Content: Capgemini Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News Europe delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    Connect with Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram

    Founded in 1996, Automotive News Europe is the preferred information source for decision-makers and opinion leaders operating in Europe.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI  48207-2997
    Tel: +1 877-812-1584

    Email Us

    ISSN 2643-6590 (print)
    ISSN 2643-6604 (online)

     

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Advertise with Us
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Awards
    • Rising Stars
    • Eurostars
    • Leading Women
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News Europe
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
      • Latest news
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • New Product
      • Environment/Emissions
      • Sales By Market
      • On The Move
      • Auto Shows
        • Munich Auto Show
        • Geneva Auto Show
        • Paris Auto Show
        • Beijing Auto Show
        • Shanghai Auto Show
    • Features
      • Long Read
      • Interview of the Month
      • Focus on Electrification
      • Focus on Technology
      • Segment Analysis
      • Cars & Concepts
      • Supplier Spotlight
      • Europe By The Numbers
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
      • Commentary
      • Guest columnists
    • Photos
      • Photo Galleries
      • Geneva Photo Gallery
      • Beijing Photo Gallery
      • Frankfurt Photo Gallery
      • Paris Photo Gallery
      • Shanghai Photo Gallery
    • Podcasts
    • Car Cutaways
    • EVENTS
      • ANE Congress
      • ANE Rising Stars
      • ANE Eurostars
    • More
      • Publishing Partners
        • Capgemini: Invent Head on automotive takeaways from CES 2023
        • Capgemini: Securing the industry's future through a radical rethink
        • Capgemini: Succeeding with the automated driving journey through AI
        • Capgemini: The circular economy is spurring new thinking on EV batteries
        • Capgemini: Toyota and Capgemini leaders on how OEMs can handle industry changes and succeed
        • HEXAGON: Plugging into data is the only way to make winning EVs
        • TUV Rheinland: Ideas, services and certifications for smart mobility
        • TUV Rheinland: Testing of automated and autonomous vehicles on test tracks
        • Toyota Europe
        • UFI Filters
      • Social Media
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • LinkedIn
        • Twitter
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • About Us