China, VW’s largest market, had Q1 sales of 429,500. In North America Volkswagen delivered 106,300.
“Developments in the first quarter were excellent. Growth regions such as China, India or Russia again produced a strong performance,” said Group Board member Christian Klingler in Wolfsburg on Friday.
By posting what was a 13.7% increase Europe’s largest automaker outperformed the overall market, which grew 8.1% based on preliminary Q1 results.
The Group brands delivered 621,800 (505,900; +22.9%) vehicles to customers in the Asia / Pacific region, of which 548,500 (457,300; +19.9%) were in China, the region’s largest single market. Volkswagen also reported strong growth in India, where 28,100 (7,900; +256.7%) vehicles were delivered to their new owners.
The VW Group also increased deliveries in the South America region as well, with a Q1 posting of 220,900 (214,600; +2.9%) vehicles to customers. The situation in the North America region was also positive, with 143,900 (122,100; +17.9%) vehicles delivered. On the US market, 92,800 (80,000; +16.1%) were delivered to customers.
The Volkswagen Group also reported growth in Europe. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), 532,000 (499,000; +6.6%) vehicles were handed over to customers. The Group brands reported an increase of 30.7% in Central and Eastern Europe, delivering 109,200 (83,500) vehicles in the region in the first quarter. On its home market of Germany, the Volkswagen Group achieved 5.0% growth, delivering 267,300 (254,400) vehicles.
Higher deliveries for all Group brands
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand recorded a strong first quarter and delivered 1.23 (1.11) million vehicles worldwide, representing 10.4% growth. China, VW’s largest single market, had sales of 429,500 (362,600; +18.5%) vehicles were handed over. In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 15.5% more vehicles (106,300; 92,000) during the same period, in the Central and Eastern Europe region the brand reported a rise of 36.0% to 37,200 (27,300) vehicles.
Audi delivered 312,600 (264,000; +18.4%) vehicles worldwide from January to March. The premium brand from Ingolstadt grew in all regions. Contributory factors included continued growth in China, where the brand delivered 64,100 (51,400; +24.6%) vehicles. Audi also grew deliveries in the USA, where 25,400 (21,300; +19.1%) units were handed over to customers. On its home market of Germany, Audi delivered 13.7% more vehicles (56,300; 49,500).
The Czech automaker Škoda also faired well in the first quarter, delivering 217,100 (178,900; +21.4%) units. Škoda sold particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe, where 51,300 (39,700; +29.4%) vehicles were delivered from January to March. In the Asia / Pacific region the Czech brand delivered 31.0% (63,500; 48,500) more vehicles.
SEAT delivered 90,800 (88,300) vehicles worldwide during the first three months of the year, an increase of 2.8%. The Spanish brand reported a strong rise in Germany, delivering 12,600 (10,100; +24.5%) vehicles to customers there. Improvements in Italy (5,400; 4,500; +19.5%) and France (10,200; 8,500; +19.7%) were posted. .
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles enjoyed “significant” first-quarter growth of 36.2%, delivering 121,200 (89,000) light commercial vehicles. 25,900 (24,200; +7.4%) vehicles were handed over to customers on the home market of Germany. Deliveries in Western Europe (excluding Germany) rose to 39,400 (29,400; +33.8%), while the figure for Central and Eastern Europe increased to 7,300 (4,500; +64.2%) units.
