Volkswagen Group reports new delivery record for first half year

Volkswagen Group reports new delivery record for first half year

• About 16 percent increase for Group and for Volkswagen core brand
• Vigorous growth in China, USA and Western Europe
• Group Board Member for Sales Klingler: "Very pleased with progress to date - but no guarantee of success for second half year"

"We are very pleased with deliveries for the first half year. Our innovative and environmentally-friendly model range is well received by customers. We are also optimistic as regards the full year and expect to perform better than the overall market," Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said on Friday. "However, the results of the first half year cannot be projected for the full year. The economic situation remains uncertain," Klingler added.

Group reports growth on all major automotive markets

The Volkswagen Group posted an appreciable 45.7 percent rise in deliveries in China in the first six months, its largest market, with the number of vehicles increasing to 950,300 (652,200). Growth rates for the Volkswagen Lavida and New Bora, the Audi Q5 and the Škoda Fabia were particularly high. In India, deliveries again doubled to 17,400 (8,200; +112.9 percent). Deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region as a whole grew 45.2 percent during the first half year.

The Group also enjoyed continued growth in the USA. 175,300 (135,800; +29.2 percent) vehicles were delivered from January to June. In Europe, Volkswagen reported growth of 4.7 percent. In total, 1.74 (1.66) million passenger cars and light commercial vehicles were sold in this region. The Company again recorded noticeable increases on markets in Western Europe: 151,100 (107,300; +40.8 percent) vehicles were delivered in Spain and 209,500 (158,800; +31.9 percent) in the UK.

In Germany, the downturn on the overall market resulting from the effects of last year's scrapping premium continued as expected (-28.7 percent). Nevertheless, the Volkswagen Group performed better than the overall market, delivering 531,300 (632,000; -15.9 percent) units.

All volume brands report vigorous growth

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand sold 2.26 (1.95) million units worldwide during the first six months, deliveries therefore growing 16.2 percent. Volkswagen recorded its strongest growth in the Asia-Pacific region with a rise of 40.6 percent. Apart from the models designed specifically for the Chinese market, the Polo and the Tiguan were particularly popular with customers.

Audi delivered 554,900 (465,800; +19.1 percent) vehicles worldwide and is therefore on course for a new delivery record for the full year. Business in European markets, the USA and in China in particular developed better than expected. Growth was strongest in the South America region, where deliveries increased by 79.5 percent. The A4/A5 Cabriolet and the Q5 were among the bestselling models.

Škoda delivered 378,700 (329,600; +14.9 percent) vehicles worldwide during the period January to June. The brand enjoyed especially strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region, where deliveries rose by 78.9 percent.

During the first half year, the Spanish brand SEAT delivered 181,800 (173,400; +4.9 percent) vehicles worldwide. Demand was particularly strong on the brand's home market of Spain, where SEAT delivered a total of 56,900 (39,700; +43.2 percent) vehicles.

* excluding Scania, including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Trucks and Buses for January/February 2009