VW Group has said that its global sales turned down in January, as lower sales in China followed a tax change there and the timing of the Chinese new year.
The company said it achieved sales of over 813,700 globally, 4% below last year. “Following strong growth last year, special effects in China affected deliveries at the beginning of the year. Especially the early date of the Chinese New Year, the increase in tax on vehicles with small engines and temporary restraint in planning on the part of Audi dealers had an impact on the sales results for January. However, we expect to continue healthy growth in China this year,” said Fred Kappler, head of Group Sales of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, commenting on the figures for January. “Outside China, the Group recorded solid growth of 4.9% in its worldwide markets,” Kappler added.
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In Europe, the Group boosted deliveries by 7.0% and handed 312,900 vehicles over to customers. Group deliveries in Western Europe rose by 5.8%. Of 262,900 vehicles delivered, the home market of Germany accounted for 91,100 units. Central and Eastern European markets improved their delivery figures by 13.6%, handing 50,000 vehicles over to customers in the region. There was a slight increase in deliveries in Russia to 9,800 vehicles (+1.3%).
In January, the Group handed 66,600 vehicles over to customers in America, representing growth of 9.0%. With 41,500 deliveries to customers (+14.0%), the US market made a solid start in the new year. In South America, the Group delivered 39,600 vehicles (+8.6%).
Special effects in China had an adverse impact on January deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region. In the first month of the year, 368,000 vehicles were delivered in the region, including 344,000 vehicles handed over to customers in China – a fall of 14.0%.
Overview of deliveries by the Volkswagen Group:
- Deliverers to customers by markets
- Europe: January 2017 – 312,900 units; January 2016 – 292,600 units; change – 7%
- Western Europe: January 2017 – 262,900 units; January 2016 – 248,600 units; change – 5.8%
- Germany: January 2017 – 91,100 units; January 2016 – 89,700 units; change – 1.6%
- Central and Eastern Europe: January 2017 – 50,000 units; January 2016 – 44,000 units; change – 13.6%
- Russia: January 2017 – 9,800 units; January 2016 – 9,700 units; change – 1.3%
- North America: January 2017 – 66,600 units; January 2016 – 61,100 units; change – 9%
- US: January 2017 – 41,500 units; January 2016 – 36,400 units; change – 14%
- South America: January 2017 – 39,600 units; January 2016 – 36,500 units; change – 8.6%
- Brazil: January 2017 – 19,300 units; January 2016 – 23,500 units; change – (-)18%
- Asia-Pacific: January 2017 – 368,000 units; January 2016 – 427,200 units; change – (-)13.9%
- China: January 2017 – 344,000 units; January 2016 – 400,100 units; change – (-)14%
- Worldwide: January 2017 – 813,700 units; January 2016 – 847,800 units; change – (-)4%
- Europe: January 2017 – 312,900 units; January 2016 – 292,600 units; change – 7%
Deliveries to customers by brands
- Volkswagen Passenger Cars: January 2017 – 495,900 units; January 2016 – 521,400 units; change – (-)4.9%
- Audi: January 2017 – 124,000 units; January 2016 – 143,300 units; change – (-)13.5%
- Skoda: January 2017 – 93,800 units; January 2016 – 91,600 units; change – 2.4%
- SEAT: January 2017 – 32,300 units; January 2016 – 27,700 units; change – 16.5%
- Porsche: January 2017 – 20,000 units; January 2016 – 19,900 units; change – 0.4%
- Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: January 2017 – 35,000 units; January 2016 – 31,200 units; change – 12.1%
- MAN: January 2017 – 6,400 units; January 2016 – 6,800 units; change – (-)5%
- Scania: January 2017 – 5,500 units; January 2016 – 5,400 units; change – 3.3%
- Volkswagen Group (total): January 2017 – 813,700 units; January 2016 – 847,800 units; change – (-)4%
