February 2017 Volkswagen brand sales worldwide fell 2.6% year on year to 384,100 units.
Jürgen Stackmann, Volkswagen brand sales head, said in a statement: “Worldwide deliveries almost the same level as last year. We achieved gratifying growth in the Americas, while certain European markets were affected by the model changeover in the Golf family, as expected. In our home market of Germany, the extension of leasing terms for employees also had a significant impact. Over the next few months, we expect that the large number of new models such as the Arteon and the new Polo will have a positive impact in Europe too.”
In Europe, sales fell 9.5% to 114,400 vehicles. In Spain and the Netherlands, deliveries were affected by the Golf changeover.
In Germany, sales fell 19.8% to 35,800. As in previous months, the main reason was the extension in the leasing terms for employees, VW said.
The model changeover for the high-volume Golf line also had an effect.
In Russia, deliveries rose 17.8% to 6,400 vehicles after the launch of the new Tiguan which also boosted sales in other central and eastern Europe markets such as the Czech Republic (+25.6%) and Poland (+21%).
US sales rose 12.7% to 25,100. South American volume was up 6.3% to 28,700 after Argentina sales rose 24.5%. Deliveries in February 2016 had been especially low as a result of difficult economic and political conditions.
“The significant reduction in tax concessions for vehicles with small displacements in China as of the end of 2016 continues to have an impact on the market,” VW said. Sales there were flat at 170,500.
In India, demand for the new Ameo remained strong, leading to a 45% rise. This model, launched last year, was developed specially for India.