VW Group deliveries drop 14% behind chip crunch

Volkswagen Group, the largest carmaker in China, saw deliveries contract 14 percent to around 3.3 million in 2021.

Stephan Wollenstein, CEO of VW Group China, blamed the sharp decline on widespread semiconductor chip shortages that put a dent in light-vehicle output. 

“2021 has been one of the most challenging years in our history in China,” he said in a statement this week. “[While] our order books are well-filled, we were unable to match production to demand over a lack of semiconductors,” 

Last year, VW brand volume fell 15 percent to 2.4 million. 

Three models in VW brand’s ID.-series full electric vehicles — the ID.4, ID.6 and ID.3 — hit Chinese showrooms in March, June and October, respectively. The three crossovers generated combined volume of more than 70,000 by year end.

In 2021, Skoda deliveries tumbled 59 percent to 71,200. 

Among the German group’s luxury brands, while Audi deliveries dipped 3.6 percent to 701,300 last year, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini all posted record annual sales.

Porsche deliveries rose 7.5 percent to 95,700.

Bentley and Lamborghini posted sales surges of 40 percent and 5 percent, respectively, VW Group China said, without divulging volumes of the two brands.