The Volkswagen Group sold more than 4 million vehicles in the period from January to July. 4.16 as against to 2009's 3.65, a growth of 13.7 percent. The four million vehicles were delivered to customers during the first seven months of the current year. In July, the Volkswagen Group delivered 572,200 vehicles worldwide.
“After a very successful first six months we got off to a good start in the second half of the year. Over the coming months we will continue on our growth path with our model range and will perform better than the competition. However, this will be a challenge, given an operating environment that is again becoming difficult. Now that incentive programs have come to an end, the global automotive market is expected to decline in the second half of the year. There will not be a return to the high pre-crisis levels this year" said Christian Klingler, Group Board Member for Sales.
In China deliveries in the first seven months grew 42.2 percent to 1.11 (0.78) million. For the entire Asia/Pacific region Volkswagen reported a growth rate of 42.3 percent with deliveries totaling 1.23 million vehicles. The highest percentage increase was 121 percent, and was once again recorded on the Indian market with 21,300 units handed over. In Europe, the Group delivered a total of 2 million vehicles to customers, corresponding to a rise of 2.2 percent, while the overall market contracted by 1.8 percent. In Western Europe (excluding Germany) Volkswagen reported growth of 18.4 percent.
Developments on the German market remain very subdued. The continuing weak market, strongly influenced by the effects of the scrapping premium last year, contracted by 29 percent between January and July. The Volkswagen Group performed better, delivering 606,200 vehicles.
In South America deliveries for the period January to July grew to 483,300 as against 472,200 last year. In North America, 309,200 vehicles were delivered to customers, with the USA accounting for 207,100. Both the Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brands again performed very well: The core brand delivered 2.62 (2.30) million passenger cars during the period January to July, an increase of 14.0 percent. Apart from the Golf family and the Tiguan, demand in China for the very successful Lavida, Passat Lingyu, Jetta and New Bora models was particularly high. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reported a rise of 12.9 percent during the first seven months to 236,600 as against 209,500 units last year.
Volkswagen will capitalise on the expansion trend in India. With the launch of the VW Vento, the company would surely try to capitalise on its popularity here. The Polo Sedan sure looks promising and with the features it will certainly see those sales figures go up.
