Tesla was the undisputed top dog in electric cars.
But VW is now picking up speed.
Barely half a year after the ID.3 was launched, the group has overtaken Tesla.
And that is just the beginning.
Wolfsburg / Munich - Tesla is a nightmare for traditional car manufacturers: within just a few years, the electric car pioneer from the USA has developed from an outsider to an innovative, successful company.
Elon Musk * was able to steer the company out of the red, the share price * has soared.
In some places, the German auto industry is even proclaimed the farewell, given the supposed backwardness * in matters of digitization, autonomous driving and electric mobility.
However, that this scenario does not correspond to reality, shows the recent development with regard to the sales figures.
VW: Group sells more electric cars than Tesla
Most of the electric cars recently sold not Tesla, but the VW Group.
This is confirmed by a comparison by the management consultancy AlixPartners from the fourth quarter of 2020. Because while the US company only sold 181,000 vehicles, Volkswagen * was able to sell slightly more models: Europe's largest carmaker managed to sell 192,000 electric vehicles with all group brands.
The “Automotive Electrification Index” has a flexible interpretation that plays into the Wolfsburg's cards and has a negative effect on Tesla *: Not only pure electric cars, but also plug-in hybrid models, are included in the evaluation. and in addition to an electronic power supply, they also have a combustion engine on board.
These include PHEV offshoots that are popular at VW, such as the Golf GTE or Passat GTE.
The VW Tiguan is another bestseller from the brand *, which is available as a plug-in hybrid.
VW: Electric strategy is bearing fruit
Tesla, on the other hand, does not have a hybrid vehicle on offer, but only produces electric cars.
In addition, the sales success of VW extends over several brands, since with Audi *, Porsche *, Skoda or Seat it owns other suppliers who are increasingly focusing on electrified cars.
Finally, CEO Herbert Diess is converting the group with a comprehensive model offensive * for the age of e-mobility.
At the house brand, the portfolio continues to grow with “thoroughbred” e-cars: In addition to the VW Golf counterpart ID.3 *, which is suitable for the masses, the group will integrate two more VW electric cars into its range in 2021: the SUV van ID. 4 can be ordered, with the VW ID.5 a coupé version will also be produced in a few months, as brand boss Ralf Brandstätter confirmed.
The new electric car will also roll off the assembly line at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau from autumn.
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