Volkswagen Group deliveries rise by 11.2 percent in August

• 13.4 percent growth from January to August
• Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Audi and Škoda report double-digit growth in first eight months
• Group Board Member for Sales Klingler: "Very pleased with developments in first eight months - but global economy still remains uncertain"

Worldwide deliveries by the Volkswagen Group for the first eight months of the current year totaled 4.70 (January to August 2009: 4.15)* million vehicles, representing a 13.4 percent increase on the previous year. In August alone, deliveries rose by 11.2 percent to 545,500 (490,600) ** units. As a result, the Group outperformed the global automotive market, not only for the month of August but also for the year so far.

"We are very pleased with developments in the first eight months of this year. Our good delivery situation is explained by our young, innovative and environmentally-friendly model range. This year alone we are bringing over 70 new models to market," Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler commented. "Growth on world markets has, however, lost momentum in recent months. The global economy and international automobile markets still present risks, so we remain cautious," Klingler added.

Group's high growth in deliveries to China, USA and Russia continues

The Volkswagen Group again reported above-average growth on key markets such as China and the USA in the first eight months of this year. In China, deliveries rose by 41.0 percent to 1.29 (0.91) million vehicles, while the number of vehicles handed over in India doubled to 26,000 (11,500; +125.5 percent). The Group also reported continued growth in the USA, where deliveries increased by 22.1 percent to 239,300 (195,900) units.

Volkswagen bucked the trend on the European market (-2.0 percent) and posted slight growth from January to August, delivering 2.20 (2.17; +1.4 percent) million vehicles. In Russia, the market returned to its growth path. Here, the Group delivered 79,800 (65,400) units during the first eight months, a rise of 21.9 percent. Furthermore, the Group reported positive growth on all major West European markets during the same period, with Spain (+26.9 percent) and the UK (+23.6 percent) enjoying particularly high growth rates.

The German automobile market, on the other hand, shows no signs of recovery yet. Here, the market contracted by 28.7 percent during the period under review as a result of the effects of last year's scrapping premium. The Volkswagen Group performed better, delivering 678,600 (841,800; -19.4 percent) vehicles.

Volume brands with positive delivery performance in first eight months

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered a total of 2.98 (2.63; +13.4 percent) million units during the first eight months. The brand continued its rapid growth on the Indian market during this period. In total, 11,500 (1,800; >500.0 percent) vehicles were delivered there. Growth on other markets such as China (+35.6 percent), the USA (+21.3 percent) and Russia (+18.6 percent) was also very satisfactory.

Audi delivered a total of 726,600 (616,400; +17.9 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to August. The Ingolstadt-based subsidiary grew deliveries by 63.2 percent to 152,800 (93,600) units in China and by 25.1 percent to 65,400 (52,300) units in the USA.

The Škoda brand delivered 493,200 (435,600; +13.2 percent) vehicles worldwide during the first eight months of the year, enjoying particularly strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region (+68.1 percent) as well as on West European markets (+27.4 percent) excluding Germany.

The Spanish brand SEAT delivered 231,100 (228,700; +1.1 percent) vehicles worldwide from January to August. The brand reported a strong increase of 26.5 percent on its home market of Spain, delivering a total of 69,100 (54,600) units.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles grew deliveries by 14.8 percent to 269,800 (228,400) units in the first eight months.

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