Volkswagen Group records 13.9 percent rise in global vehicle deliveries

The Volkswagen Group reported a further rise in global vehicle deliveries for the first four months of this year. Europe’s largest automaker delivered 2.66 (January – April 2010: 2.34; +13.9 percent) million units during this period, once again clearly outperforming the world market (+7.7 percent). The company also reported a rise for the month of April, when 690,900 (April 2010: 603,500; +14.5 percent) vehicles were sold. “As expected, deliveries by our Group brands developed well in April, too,” Group Board member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday. “As a result, we have made a good start to the second quarter. We aim to maintain this momentum over the coming months.”

Overall, the Group brands delivered 1.23 (1.13; +8.4 percent) million vehicles throughout Europe from January to April. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), 703,000 (665,100; +5.7 percent) customers took delivery of a new vehicle. The Group brands reported a marked increase in Central and Eastern Europe, delivering 155,400 (119,500; +30.0 percent) units in the first four months. On its home market of Germany, the Volkswagen Group achieved 6.2 percent growth, delivering 367,000 (345,500) units.

Deliveries on the American continent also developed well, growing 17.9 percent to 201,700 (171,000) units in the North America region, of which 131,500 (112,600; +16.8 percent) vehicles were delivered on the US market. The Volkswagen Group handed over 295,300 (276,100; +6.9 percent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period.

The Group reported strong growth in deliveries in the Asia / Pacific region, where 837,300 (683,400; +22.5 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers in the period to April, of which 741,200 (620,500; +19.5 percent) units were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market. The company also reported strong growth in India, where 37,200 (10,400; +256.6
percent) units were delivered.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 1.66 (1.49) million vehicles worldwide in the period from January to April, representing growth of 11.2 percent. The brand developed particularly well in China, handing over 578,200 (494,000; +17.0 percent) units to customers there. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 17.1 percent more vehicles (149,400; 127,600) during the same period, in the Central and Eastern Europe region the brand reported a 37.7 percent rise to 53,900 (39,200) units.

Audi also continued on its growth path of recent months, delivering 422,000 360,700; +17.0 percent) vehicles worldwide in the first four months. The premium brand from Ingolstadt performed particularly well in South America (+26.8 percent) and Asia / Pacific (+23.3 percent). Audi also continued to grow deliveries in Europe, where 250,100 (220,300; +13.6 percent) units were
handed over to customers in the period to April.

The Czech automaker Škoda delivered 295,300 (242,100; +22.0 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to April. Škoda developed particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe, where 71,600 (56,900; +25.8 percent) vehicles were delivered to customers, and in the Asia / Pacific region, where 86,100 (62,000; +39.0 percent) units were handed over. SEAT delivered 121,200 (117,300) vehicles worldwide in the first four months, representing an increase of 3.2 percent. Deliveries by the Spanish brand in Germany were particularly satisfactory, with 17,000 (13,500; +25.7 percent) models handed over. The brand also grew in Italy, delivering 6,900 (6,000; +14.8 percent) units there.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles enjoyed significant growth of 31.1 percent in the period from January to April, delivering 164,200 (125,200) units. On West European markets, brand deliveries grew 29.0 percent to 53,200 (41,300) units (Western Europe excluding Germany), with growth as high as 61.5 percent (10,200; 6,300) in Central and Eastern Europe.