The Volkswagen Group has reported a 6.7 per cent increase in worldwide deliveries in July, the third successive month of growth.
The group said that deliveries in July totalled 556,900 (July 2008: 521,100) units. In the first seven months of the year some 3.65m vehicles were delivered (January – July 2008: 3.79; -3.5 per cent).
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The company claimed that Volkswagen Group ‘continues to perform significantly better than the overall market, which declined by roughly 16 per cent during this period.’
“We are making good progress and winning market share worldwide. Our current delivery figures are above plan. That proves we are present on the right markets with the right products at the right time,” Detlef Wittig, Executive Vice President, Group Sales and Marketing, commented in Wolfsburg.
“It gives us a solid, positive basis for the post-crisis period. However, the recession is not over yet, it has perhaps bottomed out, but we see no signs yet of a sustained recovery on world markets. That is why we are viewing further developments with caution,” he added.
Deliveries in the home market rose by 26.9 per cent to 113,700 (89,600) units. The scrapping premium continued to have a positive effect. “We won as many as 250,000 new customers for the Group with the help of the scrapping premium in Germany,” Wittig commented.
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By GlobalDataDevelopments on the Chinese market were also very positive on the back of state incentive programs. The Group delivered 127,900 (76,000) vehicles in China, 68.4 per cent up on the same month in 2008, and also representing the highest deliveries ever in a single month.
A total of 286,900 (295,800; -3.0 per cent) vehicles were delivered to customers in Europe. The negative situation on the market in Spain and in several countries of Central and Eastern Europe in particular had an impact, VW said.
In South America, the Group sold 74,400 (75,700; -1.8 per cent) vehicles in July on an overall market that contracted by 11 per cent. In North America, 41,100 (42,400) vehicles were delivered to customers, representing a decrease of 3.1 per cent on a market that only contracted by 13 per cent as a result of government incentives.
In contrast, developments in the Asia/Pacific region were very positive – mainly as a result of success in China. With market growth running at 14 per cent, the Volkswagen Group delivered 139,300 (88,200) units, representing a rise of 58.0 per cent.
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand again performed very well: the core brand reported a 15.2 per cent rise in deliveries in July to 351,000 (304,800) vehicles. Apart from models in the Golf range, there was high demand for the Lavida, Passat Lingyu, Jetta and New Bora models which are very successful in China. Deliveries in Germany grew by 38.3 per cent to 60,400 (43,700) vehicles, while in China deliveries increased by 67.5 per cent to 104,300 (62,300) units. As a result, 2.3 (2.21; +3.8 per cent) million vehicles were delivered during the first seven months of this year.
Audi reported worldwide deliveries of 85,000 (83,200) vehicles in July, representing a 2.1 per cent rise. As the market’s leading premium brand, Audi benefited from positive developments in China, delivering a record 13,400 (9,400; +42.5 per cent) vehicles there. Sales figures for the A3, Q5 and A6 sedan were very satisfactory. In Western Europe, the brand consolidated its leading position as the most successful premium brand thanks to growing market share.
The Czech brand Škoda reported deliveries of 55,800 (58,100; -4.0 per cent). The brand made strong progress in Germany, Poland and China in particular.
SEAT benefited from the scrapping premium on the German market with a 71.7 per cent rise in deliveries to 5,600 (3,300) units. 10,300 vehicles (9,300) were delivered on the home market of Spain, roughly 11 per cent higher than the previous year, and the brand regained its position as market leader. In total, SEAT produced a positive result in July, delivering 33,300 (32,200; +3.6 per cent) vehicles.
