Volkswagen Group China reports solid growth in deliveries in first quarter 2013

The Volkswagen Group China again reported a solid growth of deliveries: With its two Chinese joint ventures, Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, the Group delivered almost 770,000 vehicles to Chinese customer from January to March, an increase of 21.3 percent in comparison to the same period of last year. “Building on this good result we continue to focus on customer satisfaction which is an important pillar of further sustainable development”, said Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG as well as President and CEO Volkswagen Group China.

“We are listening carefully to the needs and demands of consumers”, he added. “In the midterm we are planning to increase the number of dealers to more than 3,000 to get closer to our customers. The next wave of the best customized products with high-efficiency technologies for an ecological automotive future will be shown at the Auto Show Shanghai.”

In mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, Volkswagen Group China and its two joint ventures, Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, handed over 770,000 cars from January to March including almost 48,000 imported vehicles. In the month of March customers took possession of 262,500 (236,400, + 11 percent) new vehicles of Volkswagen Group China.

With a total 598,100 delivered units the Volkswagen brand experienced a strong growth (January – March 2012: 483,400; + 23.7 percent). This result was strongly supported by the success of the New Passat, the Tiguan, the CC and the Magotan.

Audi exceeded the threshold of 100,000 units after only three months for the first time in the brand’s 25 years in China. In the first quarter, 102,810 cars were delivered to Audi customers, a gain of 14.2 percent. Between January and March, the A6 L further underscored its position as the most successful business sedan in the Chinese premium segment. Deliveries of 36,489 units represent an increase of 36.7 percent. In the coming months, two important market launches will further strengthen Audi’s business in China. The locally produced Q3 has already arrived at Chinese dealerships in April. And the new generation of the Q5 will follow soon.

ŠKODA delivered 18,400 cars to Chinese customers in March and 57,700 in the first quarter of 2013. Confirming the popularity of the Superb in China, its deliveries grew by 30.5 percent to 12,300 units in the first three months. ŠKODA is continuing its model offensive in China by launching Rapid and Yeti this year as well as bringing new imported models to its largest single market.

As of March 2013, SEAT completed its first year entering Chinese market focusing on network construction. In the first quarter of 2013 SEAT delivered 539 cars to Chinese customers.

In the luxury segment Lamborghini handed over 84 cars, Bentley delivered 459 units. The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1st, 2012, delivered a total of 8,844 cars from January to March 2013. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reported a very strong increase in the first quarter of 41.5 percent and handed over 586 units in mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.