New sales numbers from Audi, Porsche and Volvo show sales of electrified vehicles trending upward in the coming year, underscoring the growing popularity of electrified luxury cars among affluent buyers, while BMW said it plans to step up sales of electrified vehicles during the coming year.
Audi of America reported this week its sales increased 5% in 2021 and sales of Audi SUVs, such as the Q3, Q5 and Q7 increased by 17% but sales of the e-tron family, which includes both battery electric and plug-in hybrids increased by 52%, according to the brand.
The year-over-year increase in e-tron sales included an 86% jump in the fourth quarter. Overall, e-tron models accounted for 5.5% of Audi sales last year. Audi noted in its sales release it expects electrified vehicles to account for 30% of its sales by 2025.
Porsche sets new benchmark
Meanwhile, Porsche reported fully electric cars made up 13.5% of all deliveries in 2021, for a combined electrified share of 17% including plug-in hybrids during a record year for the brand in the U.S.
Porsche Cars North America said retail deliveries in 2021 totaled 70,025 new vehicles — PCNA’s best year ever — up 22% from the year before and 14% above the previous record set in 2019. Fourth quarter deliveries also achieved a new high for the final three months at 18,410, or 5% higher the same quarter in 2020.
Orders ended the year at the highest level recorded, with customer demand across all model lines and all three powertrains: electric, plug-in and combustion, said Kjell Gruner, president and CEO of PCNA.
“It was a fascinating year, as sales of the Taycan more than doubled while the 911 benefited from the growing popularity of the icon’s latest generation,” he said. “We worked together with our dealer network to meet and perhaps exceed the expectations of our customers when it comes to enjoying a Porsche — as confirmed by top rankings from J.D. Power for both sales and service satisfaction. Overall, we enter the new year with even greater momentum for the Porsche brand in America.”
Volvo’s electric share grows
Volvo Car USA reported 122,173 cars sold in 2021, up 10.9% over 2020, with a more than three-fold increase in Recharge (EV and PHEV) model sales.
Sales of the brand’s Recharge models — vehicles with fully electric or plug-in hybrid powertrains — more than tripled, increasing 214.7% compared to 2020 with 22,820 cars representing 18.7% of total U.S. sales. In California, Recharge models accounted for 50% of Volvo’s sales in the state. In December Volvo Car USA sold 2,977 Recharge models nationwide, representing 28.5% of total sales, a 59.6% increase over 2020, the company reported.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, BMW brand sales in the U.S. totaled 93,031 vehicles, a 5.8% decrease from the 98,750 vehicles sold in the fourth quarter of 2020. For the full year 2021, BMW brand sales increased 20.8% on total sales of 336,644 compared to the 278,732 vehicles sold in 2020.
“We are proud of the success we achieved in another unusual year and look forward to building on that as we accelerate our electric vehicle strategy in 2022,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president and CEO, BMW of North America.