Volkswagen Group first-quarter deliveries grow 24.6%

During the first three months of this year deliveries of the Volkswagen Group developed very well. Over this period, Europe’s largest automaker delivered worldwide a total of 1.73 million (Q1 2009: 1.39 million; +24.6 percent) vehicles to customers, thus outperforming the positive trend on global automotive markets (+19.4 percent).

“There are clear signs of a revival on the overall passenger car market in many parts of the world. Thanks to our innovative, young and environmentally-friendly models we are benefiting quite significantly from this trend,” Christian Klingler, Group Board Member for Sales, commented in Wolfsburg on Friday. “Nevertheless, we still expect this to be a tough year. We believe that differentiated growth in the various regions of the world is likely to continue over the coming months. However, the positive trend so far strengthens our optimism about developing better than the market,” he said.

Further positive development on mature and emerging markets

The Volkswagen Group again reported a marked rise in deliveries in China, achieving a new record for first-quarter sales of 457,300 (284,200; +60.9 percent) vehicles. Growth in the Asia-Pacific region was 58.9 percent. 169,900 (157,200; +8.1 percent) units were sold on the Brazilian market. A rise of 13.4 percent was reported for the whole South America region.

In the USA, the Group delivered 80,000 (58,300) vehicles in the first three months, a very pleasing rise of 37.2 percent. The Jetta model range and the Audi Q5 were especially popular.

The Group brands sold 837,100 (737,700) vehicles on the overall European market in the first quarter, an increase of 13.5 percent; in Western Europe, growth ran at 16.8 percent with 753,600 (645,300) units delivered.

Deliveries in Germany slightly above prior year

In Germany, the Group brands delivered 254,400 (251,500; +1.2 percent) vehicles to customers in the first quarter – on an overall market that declined as expected. The Volkswagen core brand again asserted its supremacy on its home market, selling 142,200 cars (131,000; +8.5 percent). Audi, too, grew deliveries to 49,500 (47,700) units, representing a rise of 3.8 percent. “As expected, the German market is beginning to tail off. We successfully bucked this trend and, with a market share of 23 percent, in fact reported the highest first-quarter share for the Volkswagen brand since 1982”, Klingler said.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand grows deliveries in first quarter

In the first three months, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand sold 1.11 million (874,500; +27.0 percent) vehicles. The Golf was by far the most popular model with worldwide deliveries totaling 164,500 (120,000; +37.1 percent) units, followed by the Polo with 132,900 (101,600; +30.8 percent) units. In China, the largest individual market, 362,600 (235,700; +53.8 percent) units had been delivered as at the end of March.

Audi, Skoda and SEAT also report marked rise in deliveries

Audi delivered 264,100 (209,800; +25.9 percent) vehicles worldwide, the strongest first-quarter performance in the company’s history. The brand with the four rings reported double-digit growth for the first three months in all its sales regions of Europe, North and South America, Asia-Pacific and Africa with the Middle East. In China, the market with the highest growth, the brand from Ingolstadt delivered 51,400 (29,000; +77.3 percent) units. The new Audi A5 Sportback and A5 Cabriolet models helped stimulate unit sales in the first quarter.

Skoda delivered 178,900 (143,100; +25.0 percent) vehicles worldwide. The brand also reported very high growth in China, where deliveries ran at 42,700 (19,200; +121.9 percent) units, and in Western Europe, where 85,200 (75,800; +12.5 percent) vehicles were delivered. The brand also grew deliveries further on its home market of the Czech Republic to 13,300 (10,500; +26.6 percent) units. In terms of vehicles, deliveries of the Fabia models specially equipped for the Chinese market developed very well at 7,600 (2,500; +199.6 percent) units, as did the Octavia with 26,300 (16,700; +57.4 percent) vehicles.

SEAT also grew deliveries. The Spanish brand delivered 88,300 (76,700; +15.1 percent) vehicles to customers worldwide in the first quarter. The company was particularly successful in Western Europe with 78,500 (66,000; +19.0 percent) units delivered. On its home market Spain, SEAT delivered 26,500 (18,000; +47.5 percent) units. The Ibiza was the most successful model with deliveries of 46,200 (44,200; +4.5 percent) units.