The Volkswagen Group handed over 3.65 (January-May 2011: 3.37; +8.4 percent)* million vehicles to customers from January to May this year. Europe’s largest automaker delivered 763,800 (May 2011: 708,800; +7.8 percent)* vehicles worldwide in the month of May. “Our worldwide deliveries have risen further, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. Despite this generally positive trend we continue to focus very closely on the growing uncertainties in the eurozone”, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said on Thursday.
The Group brands delivered a total of 1.58 (1.56; +1.5 percent) million vehicles on the overall European market from January to May, of which 825,800 (881,900; -6.4 percent) units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). The Volkswagen Group grew deliveries 4.0 percent in the home market of Germany to 493,900 (475,100) units. In the Central and Eastern Europe region, the company handed over 262,600 (202,300; +29.8 percent) vehicles to customers.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Group deliveries for the period to May rose to 1.23 (1.04; +17.8 percent) million vehicles, of which 1.08 (0.92; +17.5 percent) million units were handed over in China, the region’s largest single market – topping the one million mark for the first time in a five-month period. In India, Group deliveries increased to 51,700 (46,200; +11.9 percent) vehicles.
Developments on the American continent were also positive. Unit sales in the North America region were up 21.9 percent during the first five months to 318,700 (261,500) vehicles, of which 224,100 (172,300; +30.1 percent) were delivered in the United States. The Volkswagen Group handed over 376,700 (376,800) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period.
Outline of developments at Group brands
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 2.29 (2.09; +9.4 percent) million vehicles worldwide from January to May. The brand developed particularly well in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 108,400 (71,900; +50.8 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 242,100 (194,600; +24.4 percent) vehicles in the North America region, and 909,100 (792,100; +14.8 percent) in the Asia-Pacific region.
Audi delivered 600,200 (535,300; +12.1 percent) vehicles worldwide in the first five months. The premium brand from Ingolstadt developed particularly well in the Asia-Pacific region, where customers took delivery of 189,000 (138,100; +36.8 percent) models. In the North America region, Audi delivered 64,000 (56,100) vehicle in the same period, an increase of 14.1 percent.
ŠKODA delivered a total of 405,500 (373,400; +8.6 percent) vehicles in the period to May. The Czech automaker performed especially well in Central and Eastern Europe, where 107,600 (91,700; +17.3 percent) units were delivered, and in the Asia-Pacific region, where 120,900 (107,100; +12.9 percent) units were handed over.
Due to the ongoing difficult market situation in Western Europe, SEAT delivered 134,300 (152,500; -11.9 percent) vehicles worldwide in the period to May. The Spanish brand reported a positive performance in Germany, where deliveries grew 8.1 percent to 23,500 (21,700) units, in the UK, where the company handed over 16,500 (15,400; +6.7 percent) models, and in Mexico, where customers took delivery of 8,500 (7,200; +18.7 percent) vehicles.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles grew deliveries 3.5 percent to 220,500 (213,000) units in the period from January to May. The brand performed particularly well in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 17,400 (13,100; +32.7 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 50,800 (48,200; +5.3 percent) vehicles in the home market of Germany.
*) excluding MAN and Scania