Volkswagen Group sales for Jan-Aug decline, and with the latest VW Scandal in the US, it might drop further.

• Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler: "Mixed developments for Group in tough market environment. Tailwind in North America and Europe."

The Volkswagen Group delivered 6.55 (January-August 2014: 6.64; -1.5 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to August 2015. 714,400 (August 2014: 755,200; -5.4 percent) units were handed over to customers in the month of August. 

"August reflected the tough market environment. The situation in South America and Russia remains tense, as do conditions in China. The tailwind in North America and especially Europe continues", Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday, and added: 

"However, developments at the Group brands were mixed. The current market situation is proving a challenging one for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in particular as it holds high market shares in countries where the present situation is tough."

Group brands increased deliveries on the overall European market, in some cases quite significantly, from January to August, handing over a total of 2.70 (2.61; +3.4 percent) million vehicles to customers. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), 1.43 (1.34) million customers took possession of a new vehicle, an increase of 7.1 percent. 864,500 (823,400; +5.0 percent) vehicles were handed over in the home market of Germany. 

The Group delivered 400,000 (447,000; -10.5 percent) vehicles in Central and Eastern Europe, of which 111,900 (183,200; -38.9 percent) were handed over to customers on the Russian market, where the situation remains tense.

Deliveries in the North America region from January to August rose by 5.8 percent to 618,300 (584,600) units, of which 405,400 (394,700; +2.7 percent) were handed over to customers in the United States. In the South America region, where conditions remain challenging, the Volkswagen Group delivered 391,600 (514,200; -23.8 percent) models to customers during the same period, of which 276,300 (406,200; -32.0 percent) were handed over in Brazil. 

The Group delivered 2.52 (2.65; -4.6 percent) million vehicles in the Asia-Pacific region from January to August, of which 2.26 (2.40; -5.8 percent) million were delivered in China, the largest single market.

Outline of developments at Group brands

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 3.84 (4.03; -4.8 percent) million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to August 2015.

The premium brand Audi handed over 1.18 (1.14) million vehicles worldwide in the period to August, an increase of 3.4 percent.

The sports car manufacturer Porsche delivered a total of 152,600 (119,800) vehicles from January to August, representing an increase of 27.4 percent compared with the previous year.

The Czech brand ŠKODA delivered 697,800 (678,500) vehicles from January to August, a rise of 2.9 percent.

The Spanish car manufacturer SEAT handed over 275,300 (257,800; +6.8 percent) vehicles to customers worldwide in the period to August.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 284,900 (287,200; -0.8 percent) vehicles from January to August.

The MAN brand delivered 65,400 (75,500; -13.3 percent) units in the period to August.

The Swedish brand Scania delivered 47,700 (49,000; -2.8 percent) heavy trucks and buses to customers during the same period.