Volkswagen Group Grows Vehicle Deliveries To Seven Million In Period To September

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – Oct 15, 2013: The Volkswagen Group grew worldwide deliveries in the first three quarters of this year by 4.8 per cent, handing over 7.03 (January-September 2012: 6.71) million vehicles to customers. There was a 7.0 per cent rise in September deliveries, with the Group handing over 856,900 (September 2012: 801,200) units. “The Volkswagen Group grew further in September, with deliveries for the first three quarters of a year topping the seven million mark for the first time. Thanks to a broad-based, international positioning and a convincing product range we were able to respond well to the continuing uncertainty in the eurozone and the challenging overall market situation – and have thus been able to win many customers for our attractive models,” Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg.

The Group brands delivered a total of 2.73 (2.80; -2.4 per cent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market in the first three quarters. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), where the market situation remained difficult, Europe’s largest automaker delivered 1.40 (1.43; -1.6 per cent) million units. The company handed over 855,600 (889,900; -3.9 per cent) vehicles to customers on the home market of Germany. The Group delivered 470,200 (479,900; -2.0 per cent) units to customers in the Central and Eastern Europe region in the period to September, of which 226,100 (234,900; -3.7 per cent) were handed over in Russia, the region’s largest single market.

On the American continent, deliveries from January to September in the North America region grew by 9.2 per cent to 664,500 (608,600) vehicles, of which 463,200 (431,600; +7.3 per cent) were handed over to customers in the USA. The Volkswagen Group delivered 681,200 (752,200; -9.4 per cent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period, of which 503,100 (573,700; -12.3 per cent) were handed over in Brazil.

Group delivery figures for the Asia-Pacific region remained encouraging. 2.63 (2.27; +16.0 per cent) million vehicles were handed over to customers there in the first nine months, of which 2.35 (2.00; +17.7 per cent) million units were delivered in China (excluding Hong Kong), the region’s largest single market. In India, 70,700 (85,600; -17.4 per cent) customers took delivery of a new Group model.

Outline of developments at Group brands
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 4.36 (4.21; +3.6 per cent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to September. The brand developed particularly well in China, where 1.79 (1.51; +18.2 per cent) million vehicles were handed over, and in Mexico, where 103,300 (88,400; +16.8 per cent) customers took delivery of a new Volkswagen.

Audi delivered 1.18 (1.10) million vehicles worldwide in the first three quarters, an increase of 7.6 per cent. The premium brand from Ingolstadt benefited inter alia from significant growth in China, handing over 355,500 (295,000; +20.5 per cent) vehicles to customers there. The brand grew deliveries in the USA by 13.6 per cent compared with the same prior-year period, handing over 114,400 (100,700) automobiles.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, delivered a total of 119,700 vehicles in the period to September. The Stuttgart-based brand delivered 36,400 vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region, and 34,900 vehicles were handed over to customers in the North America region. 37,700 customers took delivery of a new Porsche in the overall European market.

The ŠKODA brand delivered 684,900 (717,200; -4.5 per cent) vehicles worldwide from January to September. The company handed over 181,100 (193,600; -6.4 per cent) vehicles in the Central and Eastern Europe region. 177,700 (181,900; -2.3 per cent) vehicles were delivered in China during the same period.

SEAT continued its positive growth trajectory and delivered 266,100 (238,100; +11.7 per cent) vehicles worldwide in the period to September. The company handed over 218,100 (199,100; +9.6 per cent) vehicles to customers in the overall European market. Developments on the German market were particularly encouraging, with deliveries there increasing by 26.3 per cent to 57,300 (45,400) units.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles continued to record stable development in the first three quarters, handing over 406,600 (409,300; -0.7 per cent) vehicles. 119,600 (121,000; -1.2 per cent) vehicles were delivered to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany) under difficult market conditions. In contrast, deliveries in the South America region developed well, with customers there taking delivery of 118,800 (108,100; +9.9 per cent) units.