Volkswagen Group sells 5.12 million vehicles, pips Toyota in H1-2016

The Volkswagen Group sales grew in the month of June by 5.1 percent compared with the prior year, selling over 883,400 vehicles globally. However, Volkswagen brand sales in the first half of the year fell by 0.7%.

In total, sales for the first half of 2016 ran at 5.12 million units, representing an increase of 1.5 percent over the corresponding prior-year period. Despite VW’s difficult year with the ongoing emissions scandal refusing to stop grabbing headlines, production for the first six months' of 2016 has been confirmed at 5,268,000. Toyota came in second with 5,033,177 cars produced, which a far wider gap than last year. GM’s production figures remain undisclosed.

While the regions of Europe and Asia-Pacific continued to show solid growth, sales in the North America region were slightly down on the prior-year level. The South America region recorded a further decrease.

Commenting on the sales, Fred Kappler, head of group sales, VW Group said: “Solid growth overall during the first half year is partly attributable to the strong performance in June. The main impetus came from the regions of Europe and Asia-Pacific. The pleasing result reflects our customers’ trust in our products even in these challenging times.”

In Europe, the Group sold over 2.20 million new vehicles in the first six months, representing an increase of 3.8 percent over the corresponding prior-year period. There were positive developments in both Western Europe (+3.3 percent) and Central and Eastern Europe (+6.7 percent). Momentum in Western Europe was particularly strong in Italy and Spain, with Poland and the Czech Republic providing the main impetus in Central and Eastern Europe. Sales in Russia stabilised in the second quarter with 14,500 vehicles sold in June, up 0.9 percent.

In the North America region, sales by the Volkswagen Group in the first half of the year were slightly down on the prior-year level, running at 444,100 units (-1.6 percent), of which 76,900 vehicles were sold in the month of June (-4.3 percent). In the South America region, 223,800 vehicles were sold in the first six months (-24.7 percent). Sales in the region continued to decline as a result of the continued tense economic situation, particularly in Brazil.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the Group recorded solid growth in the first two quarters with sale of 333,300 units in June, up 15 percent compared with the prior year. The main impetus came from China (+18.7 percent). From January to June, 2.04 million vehicles were sold in the Asia-Pacific region – an increase of 5.1 percent.

Read more: Volkswagen Group sales inch higher by 1.6% in May 2016

- With inputs from Jimi Beckwith, Autocar UK