VW’s 9-month EV deliveries more than triple

FRANKFURT — Volkswagen’s deliveries of battery-powered electric vehicles in China more than tripled in the first nine months of the year, the carmaker said on Friday, less than two months after it flagged the need to change its e-car strategy there.

Deliveries of battery electric vehicles in the world’s largest car market stood at 47,200 in the January-September period, up from 15,700 in the same period last year.

“As planned, we significantly accelerated the BEV market ramp-up in China in the third quarter, and we are on track to meet our target for the year of delivering 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles of the ID. model family,” said Christian Dahlheim, head of group sales.

Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess in July said the carmaker had to change its approach to how it markets BEVs in China after first-half deliveries stood at just 18,285.