The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand grew deliveries 5.3 percent in the first four months of the year, handing over 1.91 (January-April 2012: 1.81) million vehicles. The brand delivered 480,900 (April 2012: 456,100; +5.4 percent) vehicles to customers in the month of April. Two extra working days as a result of the early Easter period had a positive impact in April. “Developments on world markets remained mixed and the situation in Europe in particular is very challenging. Volkswagen Passenger Cars is not immune to this trend. Overall, though, the brand recorded a modest increase in worldwide deliveries as a result of its convincing model range. The signals from China, where Volkswagen has been successfully selling vehicles for the last 30 years, continue positive”, Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, said in Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 545,300 (589,800; -7.5 percent) vehicles on the overall European market in the first four months, of which 279,300 (303,400; -7.9 percent) were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). There was also a downward trend on the home market of Germany, where customers took possession of 180,500 (202,400; -10.9 percent) new vehicles. In contrast, Volkswagen Passenger Cars recorded slight growth in Central and Eastern Europe in the period to April, with deliveries running at 85,500 (84,000; +1.9 percent) units. The company handed over 49,500 (50,500; -2.1 percent) vehicles to customers in Russia.
In the Asia-Pacific region the brand grew deliveries by 17.9 percent in the period to April, handing over 855,100 (725,100) vehicles to customers. In China (incl. Hong Kong), 783,900 (653,300; +20.0 percent) vehicles were delivered during the same period. In India, on the other hand, deliveries fell to 21,300 (26,200; -18.4 percent) units. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars grew deliveries in the period to April by 4.4 percent to 196,200 (187,900) units, of which 131,800 (131,900; -0.1 percent) models were handed over to customers in the USA. Deliveries in the South America region from January to April decreased by 4.5 percent to 235,200 (246,300) units, of which 175,600 (180,800;
-2.9 percent) vehicles were handed over in Brazil.