VW group sales rise five per cent

Volkswagen Group vehicle deliveries in the first half of 2013 reached 4.7 million (against 4.45 million in January – June 2012); a rise of 5.5 per cent.

Deliveries in June were slightly up at 827,800 (June 2012: 798,500); a rise of 3.7 per cent).

Group brands suffered a drop of 3.5 per cent with a total of 1.87 million vehicles sold on the overall European market in the first half year, against 1.93 million in the first six months of 2012.

Developments on the American continent were positive. In the North America region, deliveries for the period to June increased by 12.3 per cent to 437,900 (389,800) units, of which 303,900 (275,200; a rise of 10.4 per cent) were handed over in the US.

Volkswagen Group delivered 450,500 (469,500; down 4.0 per cent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period, of which 332,800 (347,100; down 4.1 per cent) were handed over to customers in Brazil.

Volkswagen Group said figures for the Asia-Pacific region were “encouraging” with 1.73 million (1.48 million; a rise of 16.8 per cent) vehicles handed over to customers in the first six months. Of these, of 1.54 million (1.30 million; a rise of 18.7 per cent) were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market.

In India, 49,200 (60,900; down 19.2 per cent) customers took possession of a new vehicle from the Group. 

Of group brands, Volkswagen delivered 2.91 million (2.79 million; a rise of 4.4 per cent) vehicles to customers worldwide from January to June. In China, some 1.17 million (980,000; a rise of 19.4 per cent) vehicles were sold.

Audi delivered 780,500 (733,200) vehicles worldwide, an increase of 6.4 per cent.  In China, 228,100 (193,900; a rise of 17.7 per cent) vehicles were handed over to customers. The brand also grew deliveries in the United States compared with the first six months of 2012, handing over 74,300 (65,200) cars, an increase of 14.0 per cent.

Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on 1 August, 2012, delivered a total of 81,600 vehicles in the period to June. At 24,300 units, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest share, with a further 23,500 units handed over to customers in the North America region.

ŠKODA delivered 464,600 (493,000; down 5.8 per cent) vehicles worldwide. The company handed over 120,700 (131,800; down 8.5 per cent) vehicles to customers in Central and Eastern Europe, while 135,300 (144,900; down 6.6 per cent) vehicles were delivered in the Asia-Pacific region during the same period.

SEAT delivered 182,100 (163,300; a rise of 11.5 per cent) vehicles worldwide in the period to June, of which over 150,500 (139,100; a rise of 8.2 per cent) vehicles to customers on the overall European market. Interestingly, developments in the German market proved ‘encouraging’, with deliveries running at 38,200 (28,400) units, an increase of 34.4 per cent.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles enjoyed stable development in the first half year with deliveries running at 270,700 (270,100; +0.2 per cent) units. Some 81,300 (81,900; a fall of 0.8 per cent) vehicles were delivered to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany) under difficult market conditions. In contrast, deliveries in the South America region developed well, with 76,300 (67,700;  a rise of 12.7 per cent) customers taking delivery of a new vehicle.