Volkswagen brand sees sales grow to 6.23 million units a 4.2% growth on the previous year.

• 6.23 million vehicles handed over to customers worldwide
• Deliveries up 4.2 percent on previous year
• Most successful December in history of Volkswagen brand
• Tiguan family with record deliveries

The Volkswagen brand handed over a total of 6.23 million vehicles to customers worldwide in 2017, making last year the most successful yet in the history of the brand. China, the largest single market, is the main driver of this positive development. More than 3 million vehicles were delivered there for the first time last year, an increase of 5.9 percent compared with 2016.

Volkswagen launched the biggest model offensive in the brand’s history in 2017 under its “TRANSFORM 2025+” strategy. Vehicle deliveries already made significant gains during the course of the year. Volkswagen also set a new delivery record for December, handing over 594,100 vehicles (+5.6 percent) to customers worldwide. Delivery figures for the Tiguan family were 38 percent up on the previous year, and at over 720,000 units worldwide this family is more successful than ever before. 

Jürgen Stackmann, Volkswagen Brand Board Member for Sales, said: “We are delighted with the strong demand for our vehicles and with the brand’s positive momentum in recent months. I would like to thank our customers for placing their trust in us, and our retail partners for doing an excellent job. I am particularly pleased to see that incoming orders for electric vehicles in Germany and Europe have tripled compared with 2016. We will be stepping up the pace of our model offensive even further in 2018, with momentum coming from important new models such as the Polo, T-Roc and Touareg.” 

Deliveries in the regions and markets in December developed as follows: 

• At 136,400 new vehicles, deliveries in Europe were 6 percent higher than the previous year. The Volkswagen brand reported strong growth in Belgium (+17.8 percent) and Denmark (+10.4 percent). The positive trend was primarily driven by high demand for the Golf and Tiguan as well as the successful market launch of the new Polo. 

• At 42,000 units, deliveries in Germany in December rose by 8.4 percent. Orders in Germany continue to show a noticeable upward trend, in part attributable to positive momentum from the environmental incentive. 

• Volkswagen recorded strong growth of 8 percent in Central and Eastern Europe in December. Compared with December 2016, this trend was particularly pronounced in Poland (+27.9 percent) and Russia (+35.2 percent). 

• At 51,600 vehicles, deliveries in North America were 3 percent lower than the same month last year. While the number of vehicles handed over to customers in the USA in December declined by 18.7 percent, deliveries for the full year 2017 rose by a pleasing 5.2 percent. This is the first increase in deliveries since 2013. Canada reported an impressive 53.7 percent increase for the last month of the year, delivering 4,200 vehicles. This trend was again driven by the Golf Alltrack and the Atlas as well as the Tiguan launched in August. 

• 30,200 vehicles were handed over to customers in South America, representing an increase of 4 percent compared with the previous year. 

• In China, the Volkswagen brand posted new records both for December and for the full Deliveries to customers there increased by 12.9 percent, or approx. 39,000 vehicles, in December compared with the same month last year. As a result, the figures for December were the best-ever monthly figures for China. At 3.18 million, deliveries in China for the full year topped the 3 million mark for the first time. 

Overview of deliveries by the Volkswagen brand in 2017:

Deliveries to customers bymarkets	December 2016	December 2017	Change (%)	Jan.-Dec. 2016	Jan.-Dec. 2017	Change (%)
Europe	134,300	136,400	+1.6	1,690,300	1,688,100	-0.1
Western Europe	114,100	111,400	-2.4	1,466,100	1,429,200	-2.5
Germany	38,800	42,000	+8.4	557,800	531,600	-4.7
Centraland Eastern Europe	20,200	25,000	+23.8	224,200	259,000	+15.5
Russia	7,600	10,300	+35.2	74,200	89,400	+20.4
North America	58,800	51,600	-12.3	580,600	591,600	+1.9
USA	37,200	30,300	-18.7	322,900	339,700	+5.2
South America	30,100	30,200	+0.4	335,400	419,200	+25.0

Brazil	21,400	21,000	-2.3	218,200	261,100	+19.7
Asia-Pacific	317,300	356,300	+12.3	3,171,700	3,342,800	+5.4
China	303,100	342,100	+12.9	2,999,300	3,177,300	+5.9
Worldwide	562,400	594,100	+5.6	5,980,300	6,230,200	+4.2

Volkswagen temps the buyers with a host of offers to get the cars rolling again after the emissions scandal.

• Drive an award-winning new Volkswagen Golf from just £199¹ per month
• Volkswagen Polo, with one year’s free insurance², now available from only £139¹ per month
• Deposit contributions and other offers apply throughout the Volkswagen range

Volkswagen Retailers across the country are gearing up for a busy summer of sales as the brand unveils a raft of tempting new offers across the range.  Volkswagen is synonymous with dependability, quality and value, and these qualities are typified by the latest deals.

The headline-grabbing offers start with the accomplished, classless, Volkswagen Golf.  The offers apply to the three- and five-door hatchback versions of the versatile family car.  The broad Golf range is peppered with the latest technology and driver assistance, and it of course boasts among its number the world’s favourite hot hatch, the iconic Golf GTI³.

Customers opting for a Golf via Retail Personal Contract Hire can now do so at an ultra-low rate of £199 per month¹.  This competitive offer is available over a contract of up to 48 months.

Customers opting for a Solutions Personal Contract Plan benefit from a deposit contribution of up to £2,000 at 5.4 per cent APR representative for private customers who finance a new Golf via Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS).  That means the Golf now blends class-leading design with extraordinary affordability.

The all-conquering Volkswagen Polo, recently named Britain’s best supermini once again by Auto Express magazine, is now available for just £139 per month¹ via Retail Personal Contract Hire over 48 months.  For customers who opt for a Solutions Personal Contract Plan, a deposit contribution of up to £1,400 at 6.7 per cent APR representative is available on all new Polos¹. 

The extensive Polo range starts from just £11,525 (RRP OTR) and has recently grown with the addition of the stylish new Polo Beats trim, which brings unique styling, enhanced equipment and a class-leading sound system to the hatchback line-up.  

Among the Polo Beats’ highlights are an exceptional 300-watt seven speaker sound system develop by Californian audio experts Beats Audio, 16-inch alloy wheels and Beats Audio-themed styling details both inside and out.  The Polo Beats starts from £13,910 (RRP OTR). 

The Polo is the car that many younger drivers choose and, with that in mind, Volkswagen’s free insurance offer has proven particularly popular².  

The good news is that this offer has now been extended, and simplified. One year’s free insurance is included for anyone who buys a Polo as long as they’ve held a driving licence for a year, and subject to conditions around driving history.  It’s another example of the value that comes with Volkswagen ownership.

The sporty Scirocco coupé, meanwhile, is now available at Volkswagen Retailers across the UK with a new deposit contribution offer of up to £2,000 at 6.5 per cent APR representative when purchased with Solutions PCP⁴.  

The Scirocco GT costs from £22,890 (RRP OTR) before the offer is applied and packs a punch with 18-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, 2Zone air conditioning and front and rear parking sensors. 

The Scirocco range has recently been extended to include the powerful new Scirocco GTS, too, and with its 220 PS TSI engine and unique ‘GTS’ styling it is a special car in its own right.  

The high-performance Scirocco R, with a 280 PS power plant, tops the offering and includes lowered suspension and Volkswagen’s Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), the combination of which offer the driver a thrilling experience behind the wheel.  

The GTS is priced from £28,500 (RRP OTR) and the R is £32,895 (RRP OTR) and both benefit from this deposit contribution offer.

1966-2016 - Fifty years of racing from Volkswagen, and in all those years they continue winning, and delivering great cars.

• 11th July 1966: Volkswagen Motorsport is founded as “Verband Formel V Europa e. V.”
• Tradition: From Formula V to three-times world rally champions
• Comprehensive information package on history, available to download

Exactly 50 years ago, on 11th July 1966, a group of Munich-based traders and importers who shared an interest in sport founded the “Verband Formel V Europa e. V.” – this was the birth of Volkswagen Motorsport. 

However, it all started in the USA back in 1963: it was here that the car maker from Wolfsburg’s technology was used to launch the Formula Vee junior racing series. 

The small, single-seater racing cars – with components from the iconic Volkswagen Beetle – also made a name for themselves in Germany as re-imports. 

As well as the national championships and competitions between the USA and Europe, there was also an unofficial world championship. By 1971 the philosophy had developed into the Formula Super Vee series, which produced eventual world champions including Jochen Rindt (A), Niki Lauda (A) and Keke Rosberg (FIN).

Tradition: Volkswagen puts great emphasis on promoting youngsters

Still very small, the association relocated in October 1973. It moved from the Bavarian capital Munich to Hannover, where Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH entered the Commercial Register in 2004. 

To this day, the company is still based in Hannover. After the successful Formula Vee era, Volkswagen proceeded to make a name for itself when it came to promoting talented young drivers: record Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher (D) and Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen (DK) both started their career in Formula 3, powered by Volkswagen.

Milestones: From the touring car school to the Dakar and WRC treble

Volkswagen also made its mark in touring car racing and, of course, rallying. From 1988 to 2014, many young drivers learned the A to Z of motor racing in the touring car school. On top of this came class victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with a natural gas-powered Scirocco GT24. 

And let’s not forget Volkswagen’s unique run of success at the iconic Dakar Rally, at which the team claimed a hat-trick of wins with the Race Touareg from 2009 to 2011. The pinnacle of the manufacturer’s success on the motorsport scene followed when it entered the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). 

Three years in a row – from 2013 to 2015 – Volkswagen won all three titles with the Polo R WRC: the Manufacturers’ Championship plus the Driver and Co-Drivers’ Championships with works drivers Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F). 

Volkswagen is keen to continue this success story in the future.

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

“As it celebrates its 50th birthday, Volkswagen is better placed on the motorsport scene than ever before. 

And it boasts a very well-balanced programme: a global commitment with the Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship, in circuit racing with the young drivers in Formula 3, and with the Golf GTI TCR in the various international TCR series. 

We are also well-established in the USA, with the Andretti Autosport team enjoying success on the Rallycross scene – a modern and emerging form of motor racing. As such, Volkswagen enjoys a solid and future-oriented basis in motorsport. 

That is cause for celebration. At the same time, it is also an obligation and motivation. We want to be successful, wherever we compete.”

USA - Volkswagen continues to invest in new distribution and training centre's in the USA.

• -Opening of new $6.8M Parts Distribution Center in Rocklin-
• -$4.5M investment in new Southern California Training Center-

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA) today announced the grand opening of its new $6.8 million Pacific Northwest Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Rocklin, Calif. 

The company also confirmed that it will invest an estimated $4.5 million to open a new training center in Eastvale, Calif., just outside of Los Angeles. 

These facilities, which represent an estimated $11.3 million investment, are part of the company’s long-term commitment to the U.S. market and a broader strategy to invest more than $7 billion in North America through 2019.

“The new parts distribution center and upcoming training center in California is a testament to Volkswagen Group of America’s continued investment and commitment to the U.S market, our customers, and dealers,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, president and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 

“The company remains focused on these types of strategic investments that will enable long-term growth in the United States.”

Pacific Northwest Parts and Distribution Center

The newly expanded facility in Rocklin completes a U.S. network of seven Volkswagen Group parts distribution facilities across the United States. 

The 143,000 square-foot facility holds 40,000 automotive service part numbers and approximately $13 million in inventory, with distribution to 94 Volkswagen and Audi dealers across six states in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California.

“The new Rocklin facility plays a vital role in our commitment to providing quality service to our customers and dealer network in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest,” said Jan Bures, Executive Vice President Group After Sales and Services, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. 

“We are especially excited to increase our presence in California, a priority market for both Volkswagen and Audi brands.”

VWGoA took possession of the building in June 2015 and began shipping parts to dealers in April 2016, the facility is now fully operational. 

This seventh VWGoA PDC in the United States will enable improved efficiency in Volkswagen and Audi service parts deliveries and employ 30-plus people. This is the second VWGoA PDC in California, with another 310,000 square-foot facility in Los Angeles.

Eastvale Training Center

Volkswagen Group of America also announced today that it will invest an estimated $4.5 million to create a state-of-the-art training facility at the Goodman Commerce Center in Eastvale. 

The new Center will house Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche training facilities for the purposes of technical, collision repair and sales training. This is the first training facility to support all three brands and is expected to open in the first quarter of 2017.

Volkswagen Group has committed more than $7 billion in North America between 2015 and 2019. These new additions to Volkswagen Group’s California presence are among seven locations where the company operates in the state. 

Other sites include the Volkswagen Group of America Electronic Research Laboratory in Silicon Valley, a regional sales operations office in Woodland Hills, and the Test Center California in Oxnard.

Volkswagen starts to "fix" the issues surrounding the Diesel emissions irregularities, and about time too.

• German Minister of Transport, Alexander Dobrindt, and Chairman of the Board of Management Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand,
  Dr Herbert Diess, heard more about the practical implementation of the measures
• An important step towards resolving the NOx emissions issue in Europe
• The first model is the Volkswagen Amarok, the Passat will follow shortly afterwards

In December 2015, the Volkswagen Group presented specific technical measures to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for the EA189 engines affected by the NOx issue. As agreed, Volkswagen began implementing the measures at the end of January for engines with a capacity of 2.0 litres. 

Over the next few months, the measures will also be implemented on the engines with 1.2 and 1.6-litre capacities. 

Today, German Minister of Transport, Alexander Dobrindt, and Chairman of the Board of Management Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, Dr Herbert Diess, met in Berlin and in the workshop of a Volkswagen dealership found out more about the practical implementation of the software update for the 2.0 TDI engine. 

Volkswagen is starting with the Amarok, with the Passat to follow shortly.

“The start of the recall is taking us a great step forwards”, says Dr Herbert Diess. “Our customers are getting a good technical solution for their car and can also rely on quick implementation of the modification.”

Customer-friendly solutions were an important aspect in developing the technical measures. For efficient implementation the affected vehicle models have been put into several groups. 

Only once the KBA has checked and confirmed the proposed measures are the customers affected being contacted and informed about the recall. In a second letter the vehicle owners will be requested to arrange an appointment with a Volkswagen partner. In terms of time, the implementation of the measure will extend across the whole of 2016.

A software update is planned for the 1.2-litre, 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre EA189 engines. The pure labour time for this will be less than half an hour. For the 1.6-litre engine a flow rectifier will additionally be fitted in the intake duct with expected labour time, inclusive of software update, of just under 45 minutes.

The recall has now begun with the 2.0 TDI engine in the Volkswagen Amarok. The installation of this new engine control software means that the Amarok now meets the limits required to comply with the EU5 emissions standard. 

The aim of Volkswagen was always to ensure that these measures do not result in a change to the fuel economy figures, performance figures or CO₂ or noise emissions of the vehicles affected. In the case of the Amarok, the Federal Motor Transport Authority has confirmed that this objective has been fully achieved.

Following in a few weeks’ time, in addition to the variants of the Passat, will be other models with the affected 2.0 TDI engines as well.Modification of the 1.2-litre engines affected is scheduled for the end of the second quarter. Completing the recall, the measures for vehicles with a 1.6-litre engine will be carried out from the third quarter of 2016.

At the same time the implementation of the technical measures will commence in other European countries in agreement with the responsible authorities and in accordance with the national requirements.

The vehicles continue to be technically safe and roadworthy and can therefore continue to be driven in road traffic without any limitations.

Volkswagen delays end of year results and postpones the AGM until further notice.

• Timing of report clarifying background of diesel emissions issue not affected
• Before special items Volkswagen anticipates the Operating Result for the Group at the level of the prior year

Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft will set a new date for the publication of the annual accounts for fiscal year 2015 due to remaining open questions and the resulting valuation calculations relating to the diesel emissions issue. 

Consequently, new dates for the Annual Press Conference (previously planned for March 10, 2016) as well as the Annual General Meeting of shareholders, (previously planned for April 21, 2016) will be announced as soon as possible.

In this regard, Volkswagen will achieve the best possible transparent and reliable outcome for its shareholders and stakeholders.

Before special items Volkswagen anticipates the Operating Result for the Group at the level of the prior year within the expected range for fiscal year 2015.

The timing of the report clarifying the background and responsibilities connected to the diesel emission issue is not affected by this decision. Volkswagen is sticking to the timing and plans to publish the findings in the second half of April.