WORLDWIDE SALES JAN - VW Group sales dip mainly at VW in China & the Asia Pacific.

• Fred Kappler, Head of Group Sales: “Outside China, the Group recorded solid growth of 4.9 per cent in its worldwide markets.”

In January, the Volkswagen Group handed over 813,700 vehicles to customers worldwide. "Following strong growth last year, special effects in China affected deliveries at the beginning of the year. 

Especially the early date of the Chinese New Year, the increase in tax on vehicles with small engines and temporary restraint in planning on the part of Audi dealers had an impact on the sales results for January. 

However, we expect to continue healthy growth in China this year," said Fred Kappler, Head of Group Sales of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, commenting on the figures for January. 

"Outside China, the Group recorded solid growth of 4.9 per cent in its worldwide markets," Kappler added.

In Europe, the Group boosted deliveries by 7.0 per cent and handed 312,900 vehicles over to customers. Group deliveries in Western Europe rose by 5.8 per cent. 

Of 262,900 vehicles delivered, the home market of Germany accounted for 91,100 units. Central and Eastern European markets improved their delivery figures by 13.6 per cent, handing 50,000 vehicles over to customers in the region. 

There was a slight increase in deliveries in Russia to 9,800 vehicles (+1.3 per cent).

In January, the Group handed 66,600 vehicles over to customers in America, representing growth of 9.0 per cent. 

With 41,500 deliveries to customers (+14.0 per cent), the US market made a solid start in the new year. In South America, the Group delivered 39,600 vehicles (+8.6 per cent).

Special effects in China had an adverse impact on January deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region. In the first month of the year, 368,000 vehicles were delivered in the region, including 344,000 vehicles handed over to customers in China – a fall of 14.0 per cent.

Overview of deliveries by the Volkswagen Group:

Deliverers to customers by markets	January 2017	January 2016	Change (%)
Europe	312,900	292,600	+7.0
Western Europe	262,900	248,600	+5.8
Germany	91,100	89,700	+1.6
Central and Eastern Europe	50,000	44,000	+13.6
Russia	9,800	9,700	+1.3
North America	66,600	61,100	+9.0
USA	41,500	36,400	+14.0
South America	39,600	36,500	+8.6
Brazil	19,300	23,500	-18.0
Asia-Pacific	368,000	427,200	-13.9
China	344,000	400,100	-14.0
Worldwide	813,700	847,800	-4.0

Deliveries to customers by brands	January 2017	January 2016	Change (%)
Volkswagen Passenger Cars	495,900	521,400	-4.9
Audi	124,000	143,300	-13.5
ŠKODA	93,800	91,600	+2.4
SEAT	32,300	27,700	+16.5
Porsche	20,000	19,900	+0.4
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles	35,000	31,200	+12.1
MAN	6,400	6,800	-5.0
Scania	5,500	5,400	+3.3
Volkswagen Group (total)	813,700	847,800	-4.0

WORLDWIDE SALES JAN - SEAT has its best start to the year since 2003.

Best result since 2003

• The brand delivers 32,300 cars, 16.5% more than in January of 2016
• Sales experience double-digit growth in Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy
• United Kingdom grows registrations by 23.6% compared to January 2016

SEAT’s worldwide sales continue to grow in 2017. After finishing 2016 with the fourth consecutive annual increase, and adding a cumulative growth of nearly 30% since 2012, SEAT posted the best January results since 2003. 

The brand delivered 32,300 cars in the first month of 2017, which represents a 16.5% increase over the same period last year.

“We began the year with solid growth in all our major markets at a rate which is ahead of the sector average. 

The product offensive is already paying off in the form of sales and increased market share. 

The Ateca is enabling us to reach new customers, while Leon demand has grown due to launch of the updated version. Ibiza sales are solid and continue to stay ahead of expectations at the end of the current generation,” said Wayne Griffiths, SEAT Vice-President for Sales and Marketing.

The sales increase was particularly positive in SEAT’s main markets. In the United Kingdom, SEAT registrations grew by 23.6% with 3,854 vehicles registered in January. Spain spearheaded deliveries in January with 6,700 vehicles sold (+41.7%) followed by Germany (5,800; +14.5%) and then the United Kingdom. France (1,700; +14.6%) and Italy (1,600; +25.2%) also posted double-digit growth. Most European countries are growing steadily and contributed to boosting SEAT sales in January. Mexico was another prominent market, posting a 16.3% increase and total sales of 2,700 cars.

“2017 promises to be the most exciting year in our history, with January already off to a record breaking start, thanks to our award-winning model range proving a real hit with customers,” said Richard Harrison, SEAT UK Director.

The updated Leon, the best-selling model in the SEAT range, reached the dealerships in January. In addition, the company also presented the fifth generation Ibiza, which is set to go on sale this summer. With the launch of the Arona in the second half of this year, SEAT is going to complete the largest product offensive in its history, which began in 2016 with the Ateca.

SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2016, SEAT’s achieved worldwide sales of 410,200 units, the highest result since 2007.

SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia. 

The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focussed on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitisation process to promote the mobility of the future.

Lotus celebrates the First Esprit by emulating the Bond Esprit onto an Evora Supercar.

• Unique, one-off Evora Sport 410 created by Lotus Exclusive
• Tribute to one of Lotus’ most famous liveries
• Lotus Sport 410 sales success continues

Representing the state of the supercar art, a one-off Evora Sport 410 has been commissioned through Lotus Exclusive as a tribute to one of its most famous ancestors, the Lotus Esprit S1.

Launched in October 2016, the Evora Sport 410 has wowed motoring press and customers with its combination of effortless pace and intuitive handling. With production limited to just 150 examples a year worldwide, the build schedule is filling up fast.

The benchmark was set by the original Lotus Esprit S1 as seen in the Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, which celebrates its 40^th anniversary this year, and Lotus’ in-house personalisation department has crafted a special, one-off Evora Sport 410 in commemoration.

Combining the latest in Lotus engineering with period details, the new pure-bred supercar takes design cues from the iconic Esprit and integrates them into a car with class-leading performance. Packing 410 hp into a car that weighs just 1,280 kg, it sprints from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 secs.

Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc said, “So many of us recall the impact of the Lotus Esprit when it hit the big screen in The Spy Who Loved Me, and we wanted to honour that with a special Evora Sport 410. It’s the perfect tribute to such an influential Lotus, but a world away in terms of its abilities and performance. 

Supremely fast and agile, rivals’ cars look overweight and underpowered in comparison. Lotus was founded on the principle of lightweight engineering and, even today, nobody does it better.”

Lotus Exclusive

The work of the in-house personalisation department, Lotus Exclusive, this one-off Evora Sport 410 features many unique design touches. A special, colour-coded bumper modifies the car’s front end, while the one-piece carbon-fibre tailgate is part keyed white to give the illusion of a traditional liftback. In addition to a black coach line, delineating the car’s waist, it sports a bespoke badge script on the B pillar - in the style of the original Esprit’s graphics.

Nods to the Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me continue inside, with the insert panels of the carbon-fibre sports seats and door cards trimmed in the popular heritage Tartan, while red contrast stitching complements the Alcantara® dashboard and console finish.

Beneath the personalisation, this unique car retains all the engineering elements that make the Evora Sport 410 so formidable. From the supercharged, 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine, producing 410 hp at 7000 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 3500 rpm, to the highly advanced aerodynamics, which deliver up to 64 kg of downforce, it’s designed to deliver both on road and track.

The Evora Sport 410 remains refined on B-roads, but blisteringly fast when needed. The use of hand-made carbon-fibre components has been key in keeping mass to a minimum, with each specifically designed to enhance the car’s performance. Covering the car from nose to tail, they include front splitter, revised front access panel, roof section, tailgate, rear quarter panels, as well as the rear diffuser.

These lightweight carbon components not only reduce the kerb weight of the Evora Sport 410 but also help lower the centre of gravity, allowing for the recalibration of the suspension which, along with re-valved dampers and a reduced ride height, provide better body and roll control - but not at the expense of comfort and composure.

This one-off Evora underlines the work of the increasingly popular Lotus Exclusive service. Combining traditional British craftsmanship with modern design, it inspires buyers to spend time tailoring the character of their Lotus with a comprehensive array of options. Jean-Marc Gales, CEO, Group Lotus plc continued, “Our customers have really embraced the Lotus Exclusive service, with 25% of new cars undergoing some form of personalisation. It is well established that Lotus cars come with benchmark performance as standard.  Now, thanks to the skilled team at Hethel, responsible for hand building all Lotus cars since 1966, you can specify a Lotus that perfectly reflects your personal tastes.”

The Lotus Evora Sport 410 is limited to a global production run of one-hundred and fifty vehicles per year, and is on sale in Europe and rest of world markets now. A Federal version of the Evora Sport 410 for the North American market will arrive this spring.

GENEVA - Ssangyong to debut a further concept in its range of exciting new cars.

87^th Geneva International Motor Show 2017

Stand: 4131

SsangYong Motor Company, (CEO, Johng-sik Choi; www.smotor.com/en) will unveil its XAVL SUV concept at the 2017 International Geneva Motor Show.

XAVL is a further iteration of the XAV concept which was presented at the Frankfurt motor show in 2015.  Inspired by the classic Korando model of the 1990s, XAVL. 

The eXciting Authentic Vehicle Long SUV - presents a tough and masculine looking SUV concept that blends advanced convenience and the practicality of a multi-purpose MPV.

XAVL accommodates seven passengers in comfort and provides wide inner space with a user-friendly interface, that includes connected car technology and digital display.

XAVL is also equipped with a suite of new safety aids for pedestrians as well as the driver and passengers, and is powered by both petrol and new clean-burning diesel engines.