BMW and VW record sales increase, Mercedes decreases slightly

Volkswagen sold cars more than 3 percent in the first quarter of this year. The group sold 2.1 million vehicles worldwide in the first quarter. Electric cars were not so popular, with a decrease of 3 percent to 136 thousand units. In Europe, EV sales fell 24 percent in the first quarter. VW reports that Porsche sold about a quarter fewer cars in China in the first quarter, partly due to the country’s poor economic conditions. A total of 77,640 Porsches were taken out of showrooms, a decrease of 4 percent.

Long wheel

Mercedes-Benz sold 6 percent fewer cars in the last quarter, partly due to supply disruptions in Asia. The group also involves decreasing changes in the model range. Mercedes insists that the drop in sales is temporary. In total, the company sold 568,000 cars and vans. The number of passenger cars sold fell by 8 percent to 463,000. Sales of electric vehicles decreased by the same percentage to 47 thousand.

In China, the manufacturer sold 12 percent fewer cars. According to the Stuttgart company, this is due to the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz E-class with a long wheelbase. In the coming months, sales of these extended luxury limousines, which are very popular in China, will increase again. China accounts for one third of all sales.

A small increase

BMW Group delivered 594,671 vehicles in the first quarter of the year, the automaker said Wednesday, an increase of 1.1 percent. BMW sold more electric cars in the first quarter of this year. Sales increased by 41 percent compared to the same period last year.

Electric vehicles accounted for about 15 percent of BMW’s total sales last year. This year, that share should rise to 20 percent, the Munich-based company said. The German automaker faces tough competition in China, its biggest sales market, where a weak economy and a price war initiated by Tesla are putting pressure on results. Sales of BMW and Minis in China fell 3.8 percent in the first quarter.