In total, the Group with its Volkswagen, Audi and Škoda brands employs more than 40,000 people at its production sites in China.
The Volkswagen Group earned a record profit of €11.3 billion in 2011 based on strong global sales of 8.16 million vehicles among the group’s nine brands. It was a huge increase from 2010 when the largest automaker in Europe posted a profit of €7.2 billion based on sales of 7.2 million cars and trucks.
Volkswagen Group is now the second largest vehicle maker in the world behind General Motors Company and just ahead of Toyota Motor Corporation, which struggled to maintain production because of natural disasters last year. GM earned a record €6.78 billion ($9.1 b) in 2011; Toyota – on the Japanese fiscal year that ends in March of 2012 had profits of €1.50 billion (¥162.5 b) during first 9 months.
VW Group revenues soared to €159,337 up 25.6% year-over-year. Profit before tax increased to €18.9 billion helped by the positive effect from investments and from the value of put/call rights of Porsche, which VW acquired last year after a bitter takeover battle. As a result, VW management has proposed to increase its dividend for shareholders to €3.00 per ordinary share and €3.06 per preferred share, which is certain to be approved at the March annual meeting in Wolfsburg.
All VW group brands contributed to the results by posting sales gains for the year.
The VW Group is comprised of nine brands from seven European countries: Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Skoda, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Scania.
All group brands contributed to the results by posting sales gains for the year, led by the VW and Audi nameplates. Deliveries throughout the Asia/Pacific region grew 19.8% to 2.56 (2.14 in 2010) million units. In China, the largest single market, the Group delivered 2.25 (1.92; +17.2%) million vehicles. Deliveries in India doubled at 111,600 (53,300, +109.3%).
The VW Group also reported a rise in deliveries in other parts of the world. In South America, a total of 933,400 (887,900; +5.1%) vehicles were delivered to customers, while 666,800 (549,200; +21.4 percent) units delivered in North America. In the U.S. market, Group brands delivered 444,300 (360,300) vehicles in twelve months, representing 23.3% increase in a market that was up 10%.
The Group also reported more deliveries in Western Europe, excluding Germany, where customers took possession of 1.98 (1.85; +7%) million new cars. In its home market of Germany, the Volkswagen Group increased deliveries for the full year of 2011 by 11.4% at 1.15 (1.03) million vehicles.
