Volkswagen Group Vehicle Deliveries Continue on Track

WOLFSBURG, Germany, Dec. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Global vehicle deliveries by the Volkswagen Group grew further in the period January to November, with the Group handing over 7.51 (January – November 2010: 6.59; +13.9 percent)* million vehicles to customers. Europe's largest automaker therefore continued to outperform the world market (+5.3 percent). November was also a successful month, with deliveries totaling 711,400 (November 2010: 617,200; +15.3 percent)* units. "We are making very good progress. Our target to top an annual eight million units for the first time is within reach. That is an important milestone for the Group," the Group Board Member for Sales, Christian Klingler, said. "Despite the anticipated high delivery levels for this year we are already preparing for a very challenging year in 2012. Risks on European markets in particular are increasing," Klingler added.

In Europe, the Group brands handed over a total of 3.38 (3.04; +11.0 percent) million vehicles to customers in the period to November. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), 1.82 (1.71; +6.6 percent) million customers took possession of a new car. The Volkswagen Group reported a marked increase on its home market of Germany, where 1.06 (0.95; +11.7 percent) million vehicles were delivered. The Group brands again recorded high growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where customers took delivery of 494,800 (382,800; +29.3 percent) vehicles.

Deliveries on the American continent also developed very well. Unit sales in the North America region from January to November increased by 21.4 percent to 600,700 (494,700) units, of which 398,800 (325,600; +22.5 percent) were sold on the U.S. market. The Volkswagen Group delivered 855,500 (802,600; +6.6 percent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period.

The Group also reported encouraging delivery figures in the Asia / Pacific region, where 2.39 (2.02; +18.3 percent) million vehicles were delivered to customers in the period to November, of which 2.11 (1.82; +15.5 percent) million units were delivered in China, the largest single market. The Company reported continued strong growth in India, handing over 100,600 (44,600; +125.4 percent) units to customers there.

Positive trend for all Group brands

Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 4.69 (4.18; +12.4 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to November. The brand developed particularly well in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 195,800 (132,800; +47.5 percent) units were handed over to customers. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 448,500 (366,200; +22.5 percent) vehicles, in the Asia / Pacific region the figure was 1.80 (1.57; +14.4 percent) million.

Audi sold 1.19 (1.00; +18.8 percent) million vehicles worldwide in the period to November. The premium brand from Ingolstadt performed particularly well in North America, where customers took possession of 127,900 (109,500; +16.8 percent) models. In South America, Audi delivered 17,100 (12,400) vehicles during the same period, representing an increase of 38.1 percent. Unit sales in the Asia / Pacific region rose by 33.2 percent to 339,800 (255,100).

SKODA delivered a total of 816,800 (702,500; +16.3 percent) vehicles in the period to November. The Czech automaker enjoyed particularly strong growth in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where unit sales ran at 210,000 (177,800; +18.1 percent), and the Asia / Pacific region, where deliveries totaled 242,100 (187,100; +29.4 percent) units.

SEAT delivered 320,000 (312,900) vehicles worldwide from January to November, representing an increase of 2.3 percent. The Spanish brand performed particularly well in Mexico, where deliveries grew by 30.8 percent to 15,800 (12,100) units, in Germany, where the company handed over 48,500 (39,400; +23.1 percent) vehicles to customers, and in France, where unit sales totaled 32,500 (28,600; +13.7 percent).

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles grew deliveries by 22.5 percent to 478,900 (390,800) vehicles in the period to November. The brand reported strong unit sales in particular in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 32,400 (23,100; +40.3 percent) vehicles were delivered, in the Asia / Pacific region, where 10,500 (7,300; +43.5 percent) were handed over to customers, and in the South America region, where customers took possession of 126,600 (103,100; +22.8 percent) vehicles.

*) excl. MAN and Scania

SOURCE Volkswagen AG