Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW -- the three largest luxury brands in China -- saw sales fall in 2022 amid pandemic-triggered lockdowns and ongoing semiconductor chip shortages.
Mercedes-Benz deliveries across China slid one percent to 751,700, while Audi sales dropped 8.4 percent to 642,548.
It was the second consecutive year that the two German luxury marques posted lower volume in the Chinese market.
“The decline was due to the ongoing supply bottlenecks, particularly in semiconductors, as well as production limitations due to COVID-19,” Audi said in a statement.
“At the dealerships, constraints caused by the COVID pandemic also made themselves felt in temporary showroom closings,” Volkswagen Group’s luxury brand added.
In 2021, combined volume generated by the BMW and Mini brands in China hit a record high of 846,237.
But 2022 deliveries in China totaled 791,985 BMW and Mini vehicles, a drop of 6.4 percent, BMW Group said this week.
BMW Group didn’t provide a sales breakdown for the two brands.
