The Volkswagen Group recorded a further rise in deliveries in the period to August, handing over 6.52 (January-August 2013: 6.17; +5.6 percent)* million vehicles to customers. Developments during the month of August were also positive, with the company delivering 740,500 (August 2013: 720,900; +2.7 percent)* units worldwide. “Deliveries by the Volkswagen Group developed well in the first eight months. However, the economic environment in some world markets remains tense”, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday, and added: “The Volkswagen Group and its brands are in an excellent position to master these challenges.”
Group brands delivered a total of 2.55 (2.39; +6.9 percent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market from January to August. In Western Europe (excluding Germany) 1.31 (1.22; +8.2 percent) million customers took possession of a new vehicle, of which 806,500 (757,300; +6.5 percent) were delivered in the home market of Germany. The Group handed over 431,100 (415,000; +3.9 percent) vehicles to customers in Central and Eastern Europe in the period to August, of which 176,700 (199,800; -11.6 percent) were delivered in Russia.
The company delivered 583,300 (593,700; -1.8 percent) vehicles in the North America region from January to August, of which 394,700 (414,800; -4.8 percent) were handed over to customers in the United States. The Volkswagen Group delivered 471,700 (606,000; -22.2 percent) units to customers in the South America region during the same period, of which 368,300 (447,600; -17.7 percent) were handed over to customers in Brazil.
The Group continued to record very encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 2.64 (2.30; +14.9 percent) million vehicles were delivered to customers in the first eight months, of which 2.40 (2.06; +16.5 percent) million units were handed over in China, the Group’s largest single market.
Outline of developments at Group brands
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 4.03 (3.90; +3.4 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to August. The brand developed particularly well in China, handing over 1.83 (1.56; +17.1 percent) million vehicles there, and in Western Europe (excluding Germany), where 561,500 (535,400; +4.9 percent) customers took possession of a new Volkswagen.
Audi delivered 1.14 (1.03) million vehicles worldwide in the first eight months, an increase of 10.5 percent. The premium brand from Ingolstadt benefited among other things from appreciable growth in China, where 364,100 (312,700; +16.4 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. The brand also grew deliveries in the United States compared with the same prior-year period, handing over 116,100 (101,300) automobiles, an increase of 14.5 percent.
The sports car manufacturer Porsche delivered a total of 119,800 (106,800; +12.2 percent) vehicles in the period to August. Demand for models from the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region, where 37,500 (32,500; +15.6 percent) vehicles were delivered, and in the North America region, where 35,700 (31,400; +13.8 percent) models were handed over to customers.
The ŠKODA brand delivered 678,500 (598,400; +13.4 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to August. The company handed over 180,800 (159,100; +13.6 percent) units to customers in Central and Eastern Europe. 176,800 (147,500; +19.9 percent) vehicles were delivered in Western Europe (excluding Germany) during the same period.
SEAT delivered 257,800 (234,200; +10.1 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to August. The company handed over 217,600 (191,700; +13.5 percent) vehicles to customers on the overall European market. Developments in Central and Eastern Europe were particularly pleasing, with 16,600 (10,300) units handed over to customers there, an increase of 60.5 percent.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 287,500 (299,000; -3.9 percent) vehicles in the first eight months. 111,900 (104,200; +7.4 percent) units were handed over to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany). Vehicle deliveries in the home market of Germany rose to 76,300 (71,600; +6.6 percent) units.
*) excluding MAN and Scania