Volkswagen affected by the semiconductor crisis: the decision taken by the manufacturer

VW introduces a share of electric vehicles for dealers that favor larger groups, as some customers wait up to a year for their cars.

Volkswagen has implemented a quota system in its German retail network for its ID cars with electric batteries amid the microchip crisis.

VW was forced to discontinue production of ID cars at some point at its plants in Zwickau and Dresden, Germany, due to a global shortage of semiconductors.

Under the quota system, dealers with higher total sales will receive more ID3 hatchbacks and ID4 electric crossovers than smaller outlets, according to an internal letter obtained by Automobilwoche.

A dealership that sells up to 999 vehicles a year can order 15 ID3 and 25 ID4, the letter said. If the supply of vehicles improves, the quota will be adjusted.

Volkswagen wants maximum efficiency

According to dealers, customers are currently waiting for about twelve months for an ID3, while Volkswagen itself is talking about a delivery period of “more than nine months”.

VW declined to comment on whether the decision would have a European impact or apply only to German dealers.

A VW spokesman said it was “standard practice” for dealers to be able to order only up to certain upper limits in order to ensure a balanced distribution of vehicles at the dealership and to a very high demand for individual models. customers.

“For ID family vehicles, the demand is known to be very high,” he said. “Current sales control refers to ID3 and ID4 – not ID5.”

Other VW Group brands are having trouble keeping up with demand.

Customers have to wait about 12 months to receive an Audi Q4 e-tron, a model similar to VW ID3 and ID4.

Buyers of the Skoda Octavia iV plug-in hybrid model have to wait “well over a year”, according to the carmaker.