(Reuters)-Volkswagen’s China CEO says doubling ID EV sales “seems promising” this year as the German carmaker speeds up electrification efforts to keep its top position in its biggest market.
VW’s China CEO expects to deliver 15,000 to 20,000 “intelligent design” cars every month in the next few months.
Wollenstein: “We hope to acquire the essential parts.” By doing so, we can double ID sales by the end of the year.
Legacy manufacturers from Europe, the U.S., and Japan are slipping behind local firms in China’s expanding EV industry. China is vital to funding and developing their electric and autonomous goals.
Despite launching its Volkswagen ID Series of 100% electric vehicles last year, Volkswagen is no exception.
The German carmaker set a goal in January to double EV battery sales in China from 70,000 in 2021.
Despite recent COVID lockdowns at its major manufacturing sites, it sold approximately 60,000 ID EVs in China in the first half of 2018.
Yale Zhang, president of Shanghai-based Automotive Foresight, also anticipated VW’s accomplishing its objective by year’s end.
“But that’s nothing to write home about for VW China, “he said, pointing out that the German automaker has five ID models in China right now and may add another before year’s end, which would do the volume that Tesla achieves with only one model.
Volkswagen shouldn’t be happy.