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Electric & new energy vehicles
BusinessChina Business

VW and GM lose ground to Chinese EV makers as petrol-heavy line-ups fall out of favour in world’s largest car market

  • VW’s sales in mainland China and Hong Kong rose 1.2 per cent year on year in a market that grew 5.6 per cent overall
  • GM China’s 2022 deliveries fell 8.7 per cent to 2.1 million, the first time since 2009 its mainland China sales fell below its US deliveries

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Attendees look at the Volkswagen ID.7 Vizzion, a new electric sedan, during its world premiere on the eve of the Auto Shanghai 2023 show in Shanghai on April 17, 2023. Photo: AP
Daniel Renin Shanghai
Volkswagen (VW) and General Motors (GM), once the dominant players in China’s car sector, are now struggling to keep up with mainland-based electric vehicle (EV) makers as their petrol-powered line-ups lose ground in the world’s largest market.
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VW reported on Tuesday that it delivered 3.24 million units in mainland China and Hong Kong last year, a relatively weak 1.2 per cent year-on-year increase in a market that grew 5.6 per cent overall.

The German company sold 23.2 per cent more pure electric cars in mainland China and Hong Kong than it did in 2022, but the total was only 191,800. Meanwhile, the mainland EV market jumped 37 per cent last year, with deliveries of pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars hitting 8.9 million units.

VW, which remains the largest car brand in China, grappled with intense competition from BYD, barely beating the Shenzhen-based EV maker in terms of sales. BYD deliveries soared 61.9 per cent year on year to 3.02 million in 2023.
People visit the BYD booth at the 2023 International Motor Show, officially known as IAA MOBILITY 2023, in Munich, Germany, on September 8, 2023. Photo: Xinhua
People visit the BYD booth at the 2023 International Motor Show, officially known as IAA MOBILITY 2023, in Munich, Germany, on September 8, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

“We are tailoring our portfolio to the needs of Chinese customers,” Ralf Brandstatter, a VW group board member for China, said in a statement. “While the situation will remain demanding over the next two years, we are further developing our technological capabilities and setting up our business for the future.”

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