Worldwide deliveries by the Volkswagen Group for the first eight months of the current year totalled 4.70 (January to August 2009: 4.15) million vehicles, representing a 13.4 per cent increase on the previous year. In August alone, deliveries rose by 11.2 per cent 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.

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

Volkswagen bucked the trend on the European market (-2.0 per cent) and posted slight growth from January to August, delivering 2.20 (2.17; +1.4 per cent) 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 per cent. Furthermore, the group reported positive growth in all major West European markets during the same period, with Spain (+26.9 per cent) and the UK (+23.6 per cent) 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 per cent 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 per cent) 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 per cent) 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 per cent) vehicles were delivered there. Growth on other markets such as China (+35.6 per cent), the USA (+21.3 per cent) and Russia (+18.6 per cent) was also very satisfactory.

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

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

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