2023 (Full Year) Global: Volkswagen Group Worldwide Electric Car Sales

In full-year 2023, the Volkswagen Group increased worldwide electric car sales by 35% with the VW ID4 / ID5 and ID3 as the global top-selling models.

In full-year 2023, the Volkswagen Group increased worldwide electric car sales by 35% with the VW ID4 / ID5 and ID3 as the global top-selling models.
© Volkswagen AG

2023 (January to December): the Volkswagen Group increased global sales of fully electric cars (battery-electric vehicles / BEV) by a relatively moderate 35% to 771,100 deliveries. Europe was by far the most important market for electric cars of the Volkswagen Group in 2023. Volkswagen brand accounted for more than 70% of electric cars produced globally by the Volkswagen Group. The VW ID4 / ID and the VW ID3 were the top-selling electric car models of the Volkswagen Group worldwide in 2023.

Volkswagen Group Electric Car Sales by Global Market in 2023

The most important global markets for electric cars for the Volkswagen Group in 2023 were as follows:

RegionSales 2023Sales 2022% 22/23
Europe472,400352,10034.2
USA71,00044,20060.8
China191,800155,70023.2
Rest of the world35,80020,40075.3
World771,100572,50034.7

Although the Volkswagen Group increased global deliveries of electric cars by 35% in 2023, the total 771,100 BEVs was only 8.3% (up from 6.9%) of total worldwide group sales of 9,239,500 vehicles. In Europe, the share of BEVs increased from 11.2% to 12.5% with the group the market leader. However, sales were below expectations.

The Volkswagen Group struggled in China — by far the largest electric car market in the world. Sales increased by 23.2% but the share of BEVs in total Volkswagen Group sales in China increased by only one percentage point to 5.9%. In China, 75,700 ID3s were sold and 61,700 ID4 SUVs — both well below initial predictions but less badly than in 2022.

Volkswagen Group Electric Car Sales Worldwide by Brand in 2023

Volkswagen Group global electric car sales by brand in 2023 were as follows:

BEV Sales by BrandBEV 2023BEV 2022% 23/22
Brand Group Core549,900417,70031.6
Volkswagen Passenger Cars393,700325,10021.1
Ĺ KODA81,70053,70052.1
SEAT/CUPRA45,30031,40044.3
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles29,3007,500288
Brand Group Progressive178,400118,20051
Audi178,400118,20051
Lamborghini/Bentley–––
Brand Group Sport Luxury40,60034,80016.7
Porsche40,60034,80016.7
Brand Group Trucks2,1001,70020.4
MAN1,09096013
Volkswagen Truck & Bus90250-62.8
Scania250260-6.1
Navistar670270150.9
Volkswagen Group
(total)
771,100572,50034.7

More than 70% of the Volkswagen Group’s worldwide electric car sales were under the VW brand. Audi increased electric car sales by over 50% but was falling behind competitors BMW and Mercedes-Benz, which both increased BEV sales faster.

Best-Selling Electric Volkswagen Group Car Models in 2023

The top-selling electric car models globally by the Volkswagen Group in 2023 were as follows:

  • Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 223,100
  • Volkswagen ID.3 140,800
  • Audi Q4 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 111,700
  • Ĺ KODA Enyaq iV (incl. CoupĂ©) 81,700
  • Audi Q8 e-tron (incl. Sportback) 49,000
  • CUPRA Born 45,300
  • Porsche Taycan (incl. Turismo) 40,600
  • Volkswagen ID. Buzz (incl. Cargo) 28,600

Volkswagen continued to struggle to conquer the electric car markets. The top-selling car in the world in 2023 was the Tesla Model Y, which sold around a million more vehicles than the VW ID4.

In 2024, the Volkswagen Group will launch numerous new models on the market, including many all-electric vehicles such as the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer and the ID. Buzz with long wheelbase, the CUPRA Tavascan, the Audi Q6 e-tron, and the Porsche e-Macan.

Global Worldwide Car Sales by Brand in 2023 (Full Year)

→ USA Car Sales by Brand in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018

→ Global Worldwide Car sales by Brand in 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020

Global worldwide sales by brand in 2023:

NOTE: “Sales” as reported by the various brands generally refer to deliveries and not necessarily sales to the customer or final registration. Terms and definitions may vary. All statistics are provided by respective car manufacturers unless clearly stated otherwise.

About Volkswagen Group

The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s leading car makers, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. It operates globally, with 115 production facilities in 19 European countries and 10 countries in the Americas, Asia, and Africa. With around 676,000 employees worldwide. The Group’s vehicles are sold in over 150 countries.

About the author:

Henk Bekker

Henk Bekker is a freelance writer with over 20 years of experience in online writing. His best-selling cars website has been reporting car sales statistics since 2008 with classic car auction prices focusing on the most expensive automobiles sold at public auctions in the past decade. He also owns the travel websites European-Traveler.com and Lake Geneva Switzerland. Henk holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School and an MSc in Finance from the University of London.