Volkswagen Group delivers 8.68 million vehicles in period to November

Worldwide deliveries by the Volkswagen Group grew 4.7 percent from January to November. In total, 8.68 (January–November 2012: 8.29)* million vehicles were handed over to customers. The Group delivered 828,600 (November 2012: 794,300; +4.3 percent)* units in November. “The Volkswagen Group produced a very robust performance despite the continuing economic uncertainty, and November was another good month. Our brands enjoyed particularly strong growth in China. However, the challenges on the other world markets remain unchanged”, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday.

The Group brands delivered a total of 3.36 (3.40; -1.3 percent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market from January to November. 1.70 (1.71; -0.6 percent) million customers took possession of a new vehicle in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 1.07 (1.10; -2.6 percent) million vehicles were delivered in the home market of Germany. The Group handed over 583,800 (590,700; -1.2 percent) vehicles to customers in the Central and Eastern Europe region in the period to November, of which 276,200 (290,100; -4.8 percent) units were delivered in Russia.

There were mixed developments on the American continent. Deliveries in the North America region in the period to November were up 6.7 percent to 807,800 (757,300) units, of which 557,000 (534,000; +4.3 percent) were handed over to customers in the United States. The Volkswagen Group delivered 832,000 (923,800; -9.9 percent) vehicles to customers in the South America region over the same period, of which 620,000 (709,000; -12.6 percent) units were handed over to customers in Brazil.

Delivery figures in the Asia-Pacific region remained very encouraging. 3.29 (2.86; +15.1 percent) million vehicles were handed over to customers there in the period to November, of which 2.96 (2.53; +16.7 percent) million were delivered in China (including Hong Kong), the region’s largest single market. In India, 84,800 (104,000; -18.5 percent) customers took delivery of a new Group vehicle.

Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.40 (5.22; +3.4 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide in the period to November. The brand developed particularly well in China, handing over 2.26 (1.92; +17.5 percent) million vehicles to customers there, and in Mexico, where 130,700 (113,500; +15.1 percent) customers took possession of a new Volkswagen.

Audi delivered 1.44 (1.34) million vehicles worldwide from January to November, an increase of 7.4 percent. The premium brand from Ingolstadt benefited inter alia from noticeable growth in China, where 443,700 (370,600; +19.7 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. The brand also grew deliveries in the United States to 141,000 (124,500) units, an increase of 13.3 percent on the comparable prior-year period.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, delivered a total of 147,300 vehicles in the period to November. At 45,100 models, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest share, with a further 43,100 vehicles handed over to customers in the North America region.

The ŠKODA brand delivered 850,700 (873,000; -2.6 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to November. The company handed over 213,600 (209,300; +2.0 percent) units to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 217,400 (225,900; -3.8 percent) vehicles were delivered in China during the same period.

SEAT delivered 324,500 (293,700; +10.5 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to November. The company handed over 265,500 (242,400; +9.5 percent) models to customers on the overall European market. The brand developed particularly well in Germany, where deliveries were up 22.5 percent to 70,900 (57,900) units.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recorded stable development from January to November, delivering 502,800 (500,900; +0.4 percent) vehicles. 146,500 (147,200; -0.5 percent) units were delivered under difficult market conditions in Western Europe (excluding Germany). In contrast, deliveries in the South America region developed well, rising to 147,200 (134,500; +9.5 percent) units.

*) including deliveries by the Porsche brand from August 1, 2012; excluding MAN and Scania