After its electrical automobile gross sales surged within the first three months of 2025, Volkswagen’s CEO stated the corporate is “shifting into the quick lane.” In Europe, Volkswagen expanded its lead after EV gross sales doubled. Regardless of the success, the auto big continues to be struggling in a single key market.
Volkswagen EV gross sales double in Europe within the first quarter
Volkswagen delivered 216,800 all-electric automobiles globally within the first quarter, up 59% from 136,400 final 12 months. The expansion bumped up Volkswagen’s world EV market share from 6% to 10%.
Robust progress in Europe and the US helped offset fewer deliveries in China. In Europe, Volkswagen delivered over 150,000 EVs via the primary three months of 2025, greater than double (+113%) the quantity it handed over within the 12 months prior.
Volkswagen is the “clear BEV market chief in Europe” with round 26% of the market. Compared, Tesla’s gross sales have been down in each European market in Q1, besides the UK.
In Germany alone, nearly each second EV got here from a VW Group model. With new fashions just like the ID.7 Tourer and Audi Q6 e-tron, Volkswagen’s orders in Western Europe are again up round a million (980,000).
Volkswagen’s prime 5 best-selling EVs globally have been the ID.4 and ID.5 (43,700), ID.3 (28,100), Audi A4 e-tron (22,800), Škoda Enyaq (20,200), and ID.7 (19,100).
International BEV deliveries rise however slip in China
Within the US, VW Group EV gross sales have been up 51%. The VW ID.4 was one of many top-selling EVs within the first quarter, with 7,663 models bought. Its electrical minibus, the ID.Buzz is now rolling out, with 1,901 models bought in Q1.
Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume stated, “Now we’re shifting into the quick lane” with new fashions arriving. The corporate expects “extra tailwinds” from new mannequin launches in 2025.
Regardless of progress in Europe and the US, Volkswagen continues to be struggling to maintain tempo with BYD and others in China. Volkswagen blamed an “intense aggressive scenario in China” after EV deliveries fell 37% to 25,900, down from 41,000 final 12 months.
After surpassing VW because the top-selling automobile model in China final 12 months, BYD’s spectacular gross sales run is heating up in 2025.
BYD bought 166,109 electrical automobiles final month alone. By the primary three months of 2025, the Chinese language EV big has bought 416,388 all-electric automobiles.
After slicing costs this month on a few of its top-selling fashions, BYD’s least expensive EV, the Seagull, now begins at below $8,000 (56,800 yuan).
With bold plans to increase abroad this 12 months, can Volkswagen and different world OEMs hold tempo? S&P International Mobility forecasts that BYD’s gross sales in Europe will double in 2025 to round 186,000. By 2029, that quantity might attain 400,000 or extra.
Volkswagen is banking on its new inexpensive EV lineup to assist it fend off BYD and different EV leaders over the subsequent few years. The primary, VW’s ID.2, will launch subsequent 12 months beginning at round 25,000 euros ($27,500), adopted by an SUV model and a fair cheaper ID.1 in 2027.
