Volkswagen Group’s global vehicle deliveries fell 14.3% in the third quarter of 2026, hit by a Chinese downturn and North American regulatory headwinds.

Total worldwide volumes decreased to 1,885,300 units, led by a 38.5% slide in China to 405,800 units.

Volkswagen Group Sales extended executive committee member Martin Sander said the company is operating in a “persistently challenging market environment”.

In North America, quarterly deliveries dropped 5.8% to 232,700 units amid tariffs, regulatory shifts, and the expiration of government electric vehicle subsidies in the US.

Deliveries in Western Europe fell 2.8% to 780,000 units.

Elsewhere, volumes declined 10% to 89,300 units across the Middle East and Africa, 12.4% to 67,200 units in the Asia-Pacific region excluding China, and 2.4% to 175,300 units in South America.

Across passenger car divisions between July and September, Volkswagen Passenger Cars deliveries fell 19.3% to 946,600 vehicles, Audi declined 19.7% to 314,900 units, Porsche dropped 15% to 56,200 units, and Bentley contracted 25.5% to 1,800 units.

In contrast, the TRATON commercial vehicle brand group expanded 10.5% to 78,900 units.

Global battery-electric vehicle (BEV) deliveries decreased 4.7% to 240,200 units during the quarter.

An 86.4% plunge in US BEV deliveries to 5,100 units, caused by import tariffs and the end of subsidies, alongside a 30.1% drop in Chinese electric volumes to 18,000 units, outweighed a 19.6% increase in Europe to 209,100 units.

Over the first nine months of 2026, group deliveries fell 9% globally to 6,011,000 vehicles.

Year-to-date gains of 5.3% in Central and Eastern Europe, 4.3% in South America, and 1.1% in Western Europe failed to offset cumulative drops of 30.2% in China and 4% in North America.

Sander said: “The sharp decline in the overall market in China remains an industry-wide challenge. At the same time, our new, locally developed electric models are beginning to make an impact.

“Compared to the same quarter last year, we delivered approximately 30% more electrified vehicles to our customers in China in Q3. Globally, our deliveries after three quarters are approximately nine percent below the same period last year.”