Volkswagen importer: Number of orders in Baltics hits all-time high

TALLINN, Aug 19, BNS – The number of orders for Volkswagen vehicles in the Baltic countries is the highest ever, having increased by 108 percent compared to the first seven months of last year, Moller Baltic Import, importer of Volkswagen passenger cars and commercial vehicles to the Baltics, said on Thursday.

It said that compared to the first half of 2020, the number of Volkswagen cars delivered to Estonia increased by almost 90 percent. In Estonia, 1,743 Volkswagen cars were sold in the first seven months.

Ilze Grase-Kibilde, CEO of Moller Baltic Imports, said that there are two main reasons behind the recovery of the car market.

"First, the recovery in consumer confidence has led to increased interest in the Volkswagen product portfolio. The SUV segment is particularly popular, now accounting for 55 percent of total brand sales compared," Grase-Kibilde said in a press release.

She added that 882 SUVs were sold in Estonia during the period, which represents a 185 percent increase in sales. The best-selling SUV is the Tiguan, followed by the T-Cross and T-Roc.

The second reason cited by the CEO is increased interest in electric and hybrid vehicles.

"Sales of electric vehicles in Estonia increased by more than 142 percent and sales of Volkswagen electric vehicles by 78 percent," he said.

Grase-Kibilde said that while company expects to keep moving on at a similar pace in the second half of the year, we still have to take into account a slowdown in production due to a shortage of semiconductors. As a result, vehicle delivery times are currently longer than usual.

Focusing on electromobility and digitalization, Volkswagen increased its market share in the Baltics to almost 16 percent. Volkswagen's sales in the first seven months of 2021 were bigger by 43 percent than in the same period in 2020. 

Volkswagen also strengthened its leading position in the electric car segment. In the first seven months of the year, deliveries of electric cars increased by 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Sales of Volkswagen light commercial vehicles increased by 38 percent compared to the first seven months of 2020. With the sales growth of Crafter and Multivan, Volkswagen secured an 11.4 percent market share in the commercial vehicle segment in the Baltics.

Moller Baltic Import SE is dealer for Audi in Latvia and Lithuania and dealer for Volkswagen  throughout the Baltics. The company is wholly owned by Moller Mobility Group AS.