Volkswagen Group Increases Global Market Share in First Half Year

WOLFSBURG, GERMANY - July 24, 2009: The Volkswagen Group extended its global market share in the first six months of 2009. In a difficult economic environment, Europe’s largest automaker increased its share of the world passenger car market from January to June to 12.0 (1st half year 2008: 9.9) per cent.

3,100,300** (3,265,200*; -5.0 per cent) vehicles were delivered to customers during this period. The overall passenger car market, on the other hand, contracted by 17.7 per cent. In June, deliveries by the Group even rose by 6.5 per cent to 609,800 (572,700) units. “The comparatively good trend in our sales figures shows that the Volkswagen Group is headed in the right direction. Everything is running to plan. Nevertheless, a major effort is needed in the second half of the year if we are to remain on course. Economic uncertainty will continue as the year progresses,” stated Detlef Wittig, Executive Vice President, Group Sales and Marketing, in Wolfsburg yesterday.

Volkswagen brand deliveries rose in first half year
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in particular reported a rise in market share during the first half of the year, growing 1.7 percentage points to 8.0 (6.3) per cent. Deliveries up to the end of June rose by 2.2 per cent to 1,949,000 (1,907,800) vehicles. This was primarily due to very positive developments in Germany, Brazil and especially China. Sales figures for the Tiguan, Scirocco, Passat CC and Golf were very pleasing. Judging by the response to date and by the level of orders, positive momentum can be expected from the new Polo over the coming months. The Audi, Škoda and SEAT brands also developed better than the overall market.

Position in important sales regions strengthened
Comparatively speaking, the Group performed well in all relevant sales regions. While the passenger car market in Europe contracted by 18.4 per cent overall, the Group reported a noticeably smaller decline of 11.7 per cent to 1,662,900 (1,883,700) units. 221,900 (253,900; -12.6 per cent) vehicles were delivered in North America on a market that contracted by 33.2 per cent. In South America, the share of the passenger car market rose to 22.1 (19.0) per cent. In Brazil, the largest market in this region, deliveries rose by 6.1 per cent to 335,700 (316,300) vehicles, surpassing the 3.7 per cent rise in the passenger car market. Here sales of the new Gol, the bestselling vehicle in Brazil, continued to develop well. While the market in the Asia/Pacific sales region decreased by 0.6 per cent, the Volkswagen Group reported a rise in the number of vehicles delivered to 723,800 units (610,300; +18.6 per cent). In China, deliveries increased to 652,200 units (531,600; +22.7 per cent). Group brands delivered 631,900 vehicles (previous year: 534,400; +18.3 per cent) on the German market. Demand for the Volkswagen Fox, Polo, Golf, Tiguan, Scirocco and Passat CC, the Audi A3 and Q5, the SEAT Ibiza, the Škoda Roomster, Fabia and Superb and the Volkswagen Caddy was particularly high. Volkswagen, the core brand, delivered 339,000 cars (previous year: 269,000; +26.0 per cent) in its home market.

* excluding Scania
**excluding Scania, including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Trucks and Buses for January/February 2009