The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand closed 2012 with a new record, delivering 5.74 (2011: 5.09; +12.7 percent) million vehicles to customers for the first time in a twelve-month period. The brand recorded a 30.6 percent rise for the month of December, delivering 517,900 (December 2011: 396,600) units.
“There has been another strong increase for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand even though market conditions were at times difficult. Our new Golf has got off to an excellent start and significantly strengthened Volkswagen’s competitive position,” said Christian Klingler, board member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. “2013 will be a very demanding year, and we will be facing new and difficult challenges. But we are well prepared.”
Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.70 (1.72; -1.2 percent) million vehicles on the overall European market in the period to December. The brand generated significant growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where there was a 22.4 percent increase in deliveries to 267,100 (218,100) vehicles. In Russia, the region’s largest single market, 164,700 (118,000; +39.6 percent) units were handed over to customers. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), deliveries fell by 6.9 percent to 844,500 (906,900) units due to the difficult situation on overall markets. In Germany, Volkswagen Passenger Cars handed over 586,100 (593,300; -1.2 percent) vehicles to customers in 2012.
In the Asia-Pacific region the brand reported a strong increase of 23.2 percent for the full year, with customers taking delivery of 2.37 (1.93) million vehicles, of which 2.15 (1.72; +24.8 percent) million were handed over in China (incl. Hong Kong), the region’s largest single market. Sales also developed very well on the American continent with Volkswagen Passenger Cars growing deliveries 25.5 percent to 623,300 (496,700) units. The brand performed particularly well in the United States, where 438,100 (324,400; +35.1 percent) vehicles were handed over to customers. In South America, deliveries went up by 8.3 percent to 836,600 (772,600) vehicles, of which 661,000 (591,700; +11.7 percent) were handed over in Brazil.