Volkswagen Group grows deliveries by 9.7 percent to 6.71 million vehicles till September

Wolfsburg, October 16, 2012: The Volkswagen Group has posted a 9.7 percent rise in worldwide deliveries in the first three-quarters of 2012, handing over 6.71 (January-September 2011: 6.11) million vehicles to customers. The Group recorded a 6.5 percent increase in September, delivering 801,000 (September 2011: 751,900) units. “Our worldwide deliveries grew further in September with a particularly strong performance in Central and Eastern Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region,” Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler (pictured) said in Wolfsburg. “However, the present uncertain situation in the eurozone and current overall market conditions require close monitoring and will be receiving our full attention in the fourth quarter as well.”

Group brands delivered 2.80 (2.77; +0.8 percent) million vehicles on the overall European market in the first three quarters of the year. As a result of the difficult market situation, Europe’s largest automaker handed over 1.43 (1.52; -6.0 percent) million units to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany). In the home market of Germany, deliveries grew to 889,900 (864.400; +3.0 percent) units. The Volkswagen Group continued to achieve high growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where 480,000 (390,100; +23.1 per cent) vehicles were sold, of which 234,900 (156,600; +50.1 percent) were delivered in Russia, the region’s largest single market.

Sales in the North America region from January to September rose by 25.4 percent to 608,600 (485,400), of which 431,600 (321,900; +34.1 percent) were delivered in the US. The VW Group handed over 752,500 (701,000; +7.4 per cent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period.

The Group also recorded, what it says are very satisfactory figures in the Asia-Pacific region where 2.27 (1.92; +18.2 per cent) million vehicles were sold in the first nine months of 2012, of which 2.00 (1.69; +18.5 percent) million units were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market.

Developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 4.21 (3.81; +10.6 percent) vehicles to customers worldwide in the first three-quarters. In Central and Eastern Europe, 199,800 (151,300; +32.1 percent) units were delivered. Over 456,500 (362,000; +26.1 percent) vehicles were sold in North America, while the figure was 1.68 (1.44; +16.4 percent) million for Asia-Pacific.

Audi delivered 1.10 (0.97; +12.8 percent) million vehicles worldwide from January to September. The premium brand from Ingolstadt performed particularly well in North America, where 122,100 (103,800; +17.7 percent) models were handed over to customers. In the Asia-Pacific region, Audi delivered 351,400 (272,200) vehicles during the same period, an increase of 29.1 percent.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, delivered a total of 22,800 vehicles in August and September. Demand for models built by the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region, where 7,000 units were handed over, and in North America, where deliveries ran at 6,400 units.

The Škoda brand sold 717,200 (664,800; +7.9 percent) vehicles in the period to September. The Czech automaker performed particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe, where 193,600 (166,900; +16.0 percent) units were handed over, and in Asia-Pacific, where 215,600 (194,800; +10.7 percent) vehicles were sold.

Seat delivered 238,200 (266,800; -10.7 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to September. The Spanish brand did, however, grow deliveries in Germany to 45,400 (40,100, +13.1 percent) units, in the UK, where 30,900 (28,900; +7.2 percent) vehicles were sold, and in Mexico, where 15,400 (12,600; +21.5 percent) vehicles were delivered.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ sales increased grew 4.9 percent to 409,300 (390,100) units in the period to September. 93,700 (91,200; +2.7 per cent) vehicles were sold in Germany. Across Europe, the division sold 245,500 (236,900; +3.6 per cent) units.