Volkswagen Group sees marginal sales increase during Jan-Apr

The Volkswagen Group delivered 3.34 (January-April 2014: 3.31; +1.0 percent) million vehicles from January to April this year. The Company handed over 853,200 (April 2014: 864,300; -1.3 percent) vehicles to customers in the month of April. "The start to the second quarter highlights the mixed market trends in the different regions. While we are experiencing a tailwind in Western Europe and North America and have been able to grow Group deliveries – in some cases quite significantly – in those regions, the situation in South America and in Eastern Europe – where the trend is primarily driven by market developments in Russia – remains challenging", Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday. "We continue to focus on qualitative growth. With its twelve brands, the Volkswagen Group is excellently positioned to achieve that," Klingler continued.

Group brands delivered a total of 1.38 (1.33; +3.8 percent) million vehicles on the overall European market in the first four months, of which 747,000 (702,600; +6.3 percent) were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 432,200 (400,100; +8.0 percent) customers chose a new vehicle from the Volkswagen Group on the home market of Germany, while the Company delivered 199,900 (226,100; -11.6 percent) units in Central and Eastern Europe. Deliveries in Russia continued to decline, with 57,600 (94,200; -38.8 percent) vehicles handed over to customers there.

The Group delivered 284,300 (272,400; +4.3 percent) models in the North America region from January to April, of which 184,000 (184,300; -0.2 percent) were handed over to customers in the United States. The Volkswagen Group delivered 200,400 (252,700; -20.7 percent) units in the South America region during the same period, of which 143,800 (196,200; -26.7 percent) were handed over to customers in Brazil. 1.33 (1.32; +0.6 percent) million vehicles were delivered in the Asia-Pacific region in the period to April, of which 1.19 (1.19; +0.2 percent) million units were delivered in China, the Group's largest single market.


Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 1.98 (2.02; -2.2 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide in the first four months.

The premium brand Audi handed over 591,100 (561,900) vehicles worldwide in the period to April, an increase of 5.2 percent.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche delivered a total of 72,600 (55,000) vehicles from January to April, representing an increase of 32.0 percent compared with the previous year.

The Czech brand Škoda delivered 357,200 (336,800) vehicles in the period to April, a rise of 6.1 percent.

Seat handed over 138,400 (127,400; +8.6 percent) vehicles to customers worldwide in the first four months.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 147,500 (140,500; +4.9 percent) vehicles during the same period.

The MAN brand delivered 30,300 (36.600; -17.3 percent) units from January to April.

The Swedish brand Scania delivered 24,100 (24,700; -2.3 percent) heavy trucks and buses to customers in the period to April.