Volkswagen Group is keeping a very close eye on the markets – especially in Western Europe.
The Volkswagen Group posted strong February sales today with car and truck deliveries totaling 642,300, a 15% gain from February 2011. Global vehicle deliveries of cars and trucks by the Volkswagen Group in January and February 2012 increased by 7.7% to 1.29 million vehicles, up from 1.20 million. Preliminary numbers show that the world automotive market was up by about 6%.
The powerhouse of the Group is Volkswagen Passenger Cars, which delivered 818,800 (758,100; +8%) vehicles to customers worldwide in January and February. Audi sold 202,700 vehicles (186,800; +8.5 %).
Europe’s largest automaker delivered 532,700 vehicles in its home European market year-to-date, a mere 1.3% increase, as Eurozone troubles continue. In Germany, Group deliveries increased to 162,300 (157,300; +3.2%) units. The company once again reported strong growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where 89,200 (66,500; +34%) vehicles were delivered to customers.
In the Asia / Pacific region, the Group delivered 451,200 vehicles (394,600; +14.4%). Of these units, 397,400 (350,600; +13.4%) were delivered in China, the largest single market. In India, deliveries increased by 23% 19,800 from 16,100last year.
Deliveries also increased in the North America region by 25.7% to 110,100 (87,600) units, of which 76,000 (55,700; +36.5%) units were delivered in the United States. The Volkswagen Group peddled 146,200 (145,400; +0.6%) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period.
ŠKODA delivered 147,500 (132,100; +11.6%) vehicles in January and February. The Czech automaker reported particularly strong gains in Central and Eastern Europe, delivering 37,900 (32,400; +17.1%) units there, and in the Asia / Pacific region, where 45,500 (40,700; +11.9 %) vehicles were handed over to customers.
SEAT sold 44,800 (51,000; -12.2%) vehicles worldwide in the period to February, mainly because of shrinking markets in Western Europe. In contrast, deliveries by the Spanish brand in Germany increased by 3.7% to 7,400 (7,200) units, deliveries in the UK rose to 3,500 (3,200; +9.7) units, and deliveries in Mexico increased to 3,400 (3,000; +13.4%) units.
Deliveries by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for the period to February rose by 8.9% to 79,700 (73,200) vehicles. This does not include heavy truck makers Mann and Scania.
Still, executives are cautious. “We are very satisfied with the Group’s noticeably positive performance. However, we will remain vigilant over the coming months in spite of this clear upward trend and are keeping a very close eye on the markets – especially in Western Europe,” said Christian Klingler, Group Board Member for Sales, in Wolfsburg on Friday.
