The Volkswagen Group has reported deliveries of 801,000 vehicles in September 2012, a 6.5% gain from the 751,900 delivered in the same month of 2011. Group totals include Porsche deliveries as from 1 August 2012. This growth in the latest month was below the 9.7% rise achieved in the year-to-date period, deliveries in January-September 2012 totalling 6.71 million vehicles, versus 6.11 million in the same period of the previous year.
Although deliveries on the overall European market in the first nine months of 2012 rose 0.8% to 2.80 million (January-September 2011; 2.77 million), deliveries in western Europe alone (excluding Germany) were down 6.0% at 1.43 million (1.52 million). In the home market of Germany, the company lifted deliveries 3.0% to 889,900 (864.400). In contrast to the decline in western Europe, the group continued to achieve significant growth in central and eastern Europe, where 480,000 (390,100; +23.1%) vehicles were handed over to customers, of which 234,900 (156,600; +50.1%) were delivered in Russia, the region’s largest single market.
Deliveries on the American continent also developed positively, with the number of vehicles handed over to customers in the North America region from January to September 2012 increasing by 25.4% to 608,600 (485,400), of which 431,600 (321,900; +34.1%) were delivered in the US. Deliveries in the South America region totalled 752,500 (701,000; +7.4%) vehicles.
The group also recorded what were described as “very satisfactory” figures in the Asia-Pacific region where 2.27 million (1.92 million; +18.2%) vehicles were delivered to customers in the first nine months of 2012, of which 2.00 million (1.69 million; +18.5%) were delivered in China.
As previously reported, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 4.21 million (3.81 million; +10.6%) vehicles to customers globally in the first three quarters of 2012, while Audi delivered 1.10 million (0.97 million; +12.8%), performing particularly well in North America, where 122,100 (103,800; +17.7%) models were handed over to customers. In the Asia-Pacific region, Audi delivered 351,400 (272,200) vehicles during the same period, an increase of 29.1%.
Porsche delivered a total of 22,800 vehicles in August and September, with demand particularly strong in the Asia-Pacific region, where 7,000 units were delivered, and in the North America region, where deliveries totalled 6,400 units.
The Skoda brand delivered a total of 717,200 (664,800; +7.9%) vehicles in the year-to-date period, performing solidly in central and eastern Europe, where 193,600 (166,900; +16.0%) units were handed over, and in the Asia-Pacific region, where 215,600 (194,800; +10.7%) vehicles were delivered.
In contrast, SEAT continued to suffer from depressed demand conditions in markets in the south of Europe, deliveries falling 10.7% to 238,200 (266,800) worldwide. However, the brand did manage to increase deliveries in Germany, to 45,400 (40,100, +13.1%); in the UK, where 30,900 (28,900; +7.2%) vehicles were handed over to customers; and in Mexico, where 15,400 (12,600; +21.5%) vehicles were delivered.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles lifted year-on-year deliveries 4.9% to 409,300 (390,100) units in the period to September. 93,700 (91,200; +2.7%) vehicles were handed over to customers in Germany. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also increased sales across Europe, with 245,500 (236,900; +3.6%) units delivered on the overall European market.
Volkswagen Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler commented: “Our worldwide deliveries grew further in September with a particularly strong performance in central and eastern Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. However, the present uncertain situation in the eurozone and current overall market conditions require close monitoring and will be receiving our full attention in the fourth quarter as well.”
