VW group posts impressive sales figures for 2013

• Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler: “Renewed increase in deliveries is very good achievement by all brands. Market developments in 2014 expected to be similar to 2013.”

The Volkswagen Group reported yet another strong increase in worldwide deliveries for the full year 2013, topping the record set in 2012. “In total, our Group delivered over 9.7 million vehicles to customers last year, ranging from small city cars to heavy trucks – more than ever before,” Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said, commenting on the overall delivery figures which also include estimates for the MAN and Scania brands. Klingler continued: “Across the board, all brands contributed to these very positive results which are a very good achievement in light of the difficult conditions on markets all over the world. As far as the current year is concerned, we expect market developments on a level similar to 2013. Even though the situation in Europe would appear to be stabilising, economic uncertainty will continue and the challenges we will be facing on markets will remain virtually unchanged.”

Excluding the heavy truck brands of MAN and Scania, the Volkswagen Group delivered 9.5 (2012: 9.1; +4.8 per cent)* million vehicles in twelve months. The Group finished the month of December with a 6.3 per cent increase, delivering 833,200 (December 2012: 784,100)* units.

Developments in the various regions and world markets were mixed. Group brands delivered 3.65 (3.67; -0.5 per cent) million vehicles on the overall European market from January to December, of which 1.85 (1.85; +0.1 per cent) million units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). 1.16 (1.18; -1.4 per cent) million customers chose a new model from the Volkswagen Group in the home market of Germany. Europe’s largest automaker delivered 639,500 (644,300; -0.7 per cent) vehicles in the Central and Eastern Europe region. 303,200 (317,700; -4.6 per cent) vehicles were handed over to customers in the Russian market during the same period.

Deliveries in the North America region from January to December grew 5.6 per cent to 888,800 (841,500) units, of which 611,700 (596,100; +2.6 per cent) were delivered in the United States. In the South America region, the Volkswagen Group handed over 908,000 (1,010,100; -10.1 per cent) million vehicles to customers during the same period, of which 682,200 (780,200; -12.6 per cent) were delivered in Brazil.

The Group recorded very encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 3.64 (3.17; +14.7 per cent) million vehicles were delivered to customers in the period to December, of which 3.27 (2.81; +16.2 per cent) million were handed over to customers in China (incl. Hong Kong), the Group’s largest single market. In contrast, deliveries in India declined to 92,600 (114,100; -18.9 per cent) units.

Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.93 (5.74; +3.4 per cent) million vehicles to customers worldwide during the full year. The brand developed well in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 2.73 (2.37; +15.0 per cent) million vehicles there. Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.64 (1.70; -3.7 per cent) million vehicles to customers on the overall European market, where conditions remained difficult, of which 560,100 (586,100; -4.4 per cent) units were handed over in the home market of Germany.

Audi delivered 1.58 (1.46; +8.3 per cent) million vehicles worldwide in 2013. The premium brand from Ingolstadt developed particularly well in the Asia-Pacific region, where customers took possession of 579,100 (478,900; +20.9 per cent) new vehicles. Audi delivered 190,300 (168,800) models in the North America region during the same period, an increase of 12.7 per cent.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, recorded full-year deliveries totaling 162,100 vehicles. Demand for vehicles built by the Stuttgart-based carmaker was particularly high in the Asia-Pacific region, where 49,700 units were delivered, and in the North America region, where 46,700 vehicles were handed over to customers.

ŠKODA delivered a total of 920,800 (939,200; -2.0 per cent) vehicles in 2013. The Czech automaker grew deliveries for the full year in Western Europe (excluding Germany), handing over 233,200 (225,900; +3.2 per cent) units. The company delivered 251,800 (261,100; -3.5 per cent) vehicles to customers in the Central and Eastern Europe region.

SEAT delivered 355,000 (321,000) vehicles worldwide in 2013, an increase of 10.6 per cent. The Spanish brand benefited in particular from a tailwind in Germany, where deliveries grew 20.3 per cent to 76,600 (63,700) units, as well as in the UK, where the company delivered 45,700 (39,000; +17.0 per cent) units.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 551,900 (550,200; +0.3 per cent) vehicles to customers last year, of which 159,400 (161,200; -1.1 per cent) units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). In contrast, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles grew deliveries in the South America region by 8.3 per cent, handing over 160,400 (148,100) vehicles to customer there.

*) including deliveries by the Porsche brand from August 1, 2012; excluding MAN and Scania