Wolfsburg, 24 August 2012 - The Volkswagen Group recorded a 9.1 per cent rise in deliveries for the period to July, taking the number of vehicles handed over to customers worldwide in the first seven months of this year to 5.19 (January-July 2011: 4.75)* million, surpassing the five million mark for this period for the first time.  Group brands delivered 734,600 (July 2011: 665,800; +10.3 per cent)* vehicles in the month of July.  “Overall, we made a good start to the second half of the year and continued on our growth trajectory in almost all regions, particularly Asia, North America and Russia.  However, the situation in Western Europe remains noticeably tense, although our brands outperformed the overall market there despite the difficult conditions”, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday.

There was a further increase in Group deliveries on the American continent in the period to July.  In the North America region, the company handed over 457,900 (375,500; +21.9 per cent) vehicles in the first seven months, of which 324,200 (249,400; +30.0 per cent) units were delivered in the United States.  In South America, the Volkswagen Group handed over 566,500 (538,100; +5.3 per cent) units to customers during the same period.

Group figures for the Asia-Pacific region were again very encouraging.  In total, 1.72 (1.46; +17.3 per cent) million vehicles were handed over to customers there from January to July, of which 1.51 (1.29; +17.1 per cent) million units were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market.  In India, the Group handed over 69,400 (62,900; +10.5 per cent) vehicles to customers during the same period.

In Europe, the Volkswagen Group delivered a total of 2.23 (2.20; +1.6 per cent) million vehicles during the first seven months.  Deliveries in Western Europe (excluding Germany) fell slightly to 1.15 (1.22; -5.9 per cent) million units as a result of the continued difficult market situation.  In its home market of Germany, Europe’s largest automaker recorded a 4.4 per cent increase to 708,100 (678,400) units.  The Central and Eastern Europe region continued to develop well, with customers taking delivery of 376,300 (299,600; +25.6 per cent) vehicles.

Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 3.26 (2.95; +10.4 per cent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to July.  The brand developed particularly well in Asia, where 1.27 (1.10; +15.1 per cent) million vehicles were handed over, the United States, where 245,700 (183,200; +34.1 per cent) units were delivered, and Russia, where deliveries totaled 95,600 (56,500; +69.2 per cent).

The Audi brand delivered 852,900 (758,900) vehicles worldwide in the first seven months, an increase of 12.4 percent.  The premium brand from Ingolstadt performed particularly well in China, where 226,700 (168,500; +34.6 per cent) units were handed over, and the United States, where 76,900 (65,100; +18.2 per cent) vehicles were delivered.  The brand also grew deliveries in Russia, handing over 19,300 (13,800) automobiles, an increase of 40.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2011, while deliveries on the overall European market rose by 3.1 per cent to 454,200 (440,500) units.

The Czech brand ŠKODA delivered 565,600 (523,200; +8.1 per cent) vehicles worldwide from January to July.  The company developed particularly well in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 152,800 (131,800; +16.0 per cent) customers took delivery of a new vehicle.  In the Asia-Pacific region, ŠKODA grew deliveries to 167,300 (149,500; +11.9 per cent).

SEAT delivered 189,200 (215,500; -12.2 per cent) vehicles worldwide in the period to July.  The Spanish brand handed over 160,400 (193,700; -17.2 per cent) vehicles to customers on the overall European market as a result of the continued difficult market situation.  In contrast, SEAT developed well on the Mexican market, delivering 12,000 (9,800; +21.8 per cent) automobiles there.  In Germany, too, the brand grew deliveries to 34,400 (30,900; +11.4 per cent).

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 317,300 (303,200, +4.7 per cent) units from January to July.  74,700 (70,700; +5.7 per cent) vehicles were handed over to customers in the home market of Germany.  Deliveries to the rest of Europe also developed well.  As a result, vehicle deliveries on the overall European market rose to 193,600 (183,800; +5.3 per cent).

*) excluding MAN and Scania

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk