Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivers 1.43-million vehicles in first quarter

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 1.43- (January-March 2012: 1.36; +5.2 per cent) million vehicles in the first three months of the year. There was, however, a slight decline in deliveries for the month of March, with the brand handing over 532,400 (March 2012:
536,700; -0.8 per cent) vehicles to customers.

"There were mixed developments on markets worldwide for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. While there was further growth in Asia and North America in particular, deliveries declined in other regions such as Western Europe and South America. As expected, markets are becoming more difficult, and in some cases decidedly more challenging," said Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 396,300 (441,800; -10.3 per cent) vehicles on the overall European market in the first quarter, of which 208,800 (232,600; -10.2 per cent) were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). There was also a downward trend in the home market of Germany, where customers took possession of 126,500 (149,000; -15.1 per cent) new vehicles. In contrast, Volkswagen Passenger Cars recorded slight growth in Central and Eastern Europe in the period to March, with deliveries running at 61,000 (60,200; +1.4 per cent) units. The company handed over 35,300 (35,800; -1.4 per cent) vehicles to customers in Russia.

In the Asia-Pacific region the brand grew deliveries by 20.9 per cent in the period to March, handing over 653,500 (540,600) units. In China (incl. Hong Kong), 598,100 (483,400; +23.7 per cent) vehicles were delivered during the same period. In India, on the other hand, deliveries fell to 16,600 (20,400; -18.5 per cent) units. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars grew deliveries by 7.3 per cent to 145,700 (135,700) units, of which 98,200 (94,400; +4 per cent) models were handed over to customers in the United States. However, in the South America region there was a 7.3 per cent drop in deliveries to 176,600 (190,500) units, of which 131,200 (138,600; -5.3 per cent) vehicles were handed over to customers in Brazil.

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