If you are looking to go electric in 2022, the process will be more difficult than expected, especially if you are tempted by a vehicle from the Volkswagen group. Indeed and according to a report by the Financial Times, the German manufacturer has sold all of its stocks for the rest of 2022. The brand must already honor an already well-filled order book, and deal with a production which is running in slow motion due to the shortage of electronic components.
Want an electric car in 2022? In view of the explosion in fuel prices, it must be said that the operation is tempting. Nevertheless, and if you are interested in a Volkswagen group vehicle, such as an ID.3 or an ID.4, patience will be required. Until at least 2023.
According to an article in the Financial Times, the CEO of the German group Herbert Diess revealed that Volkswagen is “fundamentally short of electric vehicles in Europe and the United States” for the rest of the year. As you can imagine, the brand has to deal with the difficulties caused by the shortage of electronic components, not to mention the shutdown of several factories in Ukraine which further complicates production. In November 2021, Volkswagen had already announced the temporary suspension of production of the ID.3 and ID.4 due to the shortage of electronic chips.
More electric cars at Volkswagen before 2023
Note that the CEO’s statement concerned both vehicles stamped Volkswagen, but also those of other brands in the group such as Audi, Porsche, Skoda, Seat or even Lamborghini for the wealthy. The Financial Times explains that Volkswagen must already honor a particularly full order book. Moreover, the manufacturer is not at all certain of being able to satisfy them all before the end of the year 2022.
It is therefore a rather complicated situation for Volkswagen. On the one hand, Herbert Diess’ statements will dampen the enthusiasm of potential customers who wanted to go electric in 2022. On the other, the group’s brand image could be seriously tarnished, especially if delivery times continue to lengthen for buyers.
However, Volkswagen recorded excellent results for this 1st quarter of 2022, with no less than 100,000 electric vehicles sold. Tesla nevertheless remains number one over the period with 300,000 vehicles sold. A good performance, even if Tesla readily admits that it was a particularly difficult quarter, between the difficulties on the production lines and the closure of several in China because of the Zero Covid policy.
Source : FinancialTimes
