Volkswagen Group delivers record 5.73 million vehicles in 2006

Last year, the Volkswagen Group delivered more vehicles to customers than ever before. The group sold 5.73 million vehicles worldwide, corresponding to a rise of 9.3% compared with the previous year.

"There was a marked increase in group deliveries in all major regions," Professor Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, commented in Detroit last Sunday.

"All brands contributed to this record. I would like to thank everyone involved for this outstanding achievement. Above all, my thanks go to our customers, who once again showed great confidence in Volkswagen Group products last year."

The group's progress in expanding its leading position in Western Europe was particularly impressive, with 3.11 million vehicles (+5.8%) being delivered in 2006.

As in 2005, the group again topped the one million mark for vehicle sales in Germany: 1.11 million vehicles, representing a 7.3% increase compared with 2005.

The group also defended its market leadership in the Chinese passenger car market in 2006, delivering 711,000 vehicles, which corresponds to a significant 24.3% growth.

Developments in the South America/South Africa region were equally positive, with vehicle sales up 14.9% to 683,000 units. In Brazil in particular, there was a strong rise of 15.1% to 441,000 vehicles.

In the United States, the turnaround begun in 2005 continued as the group delivered 330,000 vehicles to customers, representing a 5.9% increase.

Volkswagen passenger cars, the core brand, reported a new record with 3.39 million vehicles delivered worldwide in 2006, corresponding to an increase of 10%.

Market leadership in Western Europe was extended further, with vehicle sales totalling 1.52 million (+5.6%). There was also an increase in VW passenger car sales in Germany, which rose by 7.4% to 571,000 units, strengthening the leading position in the German market.

In China (including Hong Kong), sales of 625,000 units, corresponding to a rise of 22.3%, strengthened the pole position on the Chinese passenger car market.

In South America/South Africa, deliveries to customers in 2006 rose by 15% to 571,000 units. VW Passenger Cars sold 235,000 vehicles in the US - a rise of 4.9% compared with 2005.

Audi recorded its 13th successive delivery record in 2006, with 905,000 vehicles (+ 9.2%) being delivered worldwide. A key success factor was a further 5.5% increase in Western Europe, where 631,000 vehicles were delivered.

In Germany, Audi sales rose by 4.3% to 258,000 units. There was also a strong increase in Central and Eastern Europe, where sales rose by 31.7% to 27,000 units.

Audi growth was strongest in China, where 82,000 vehicles were delivered to customers, representing an increase of 38.8%.

On the US market, Audi sales rose to 90,000 vehicles, up 8.5% compared with the previous year.

In 2006, the Skoda brand topped its record of the previous year, with worldwide sales of 550,000 vehicles representing a year-on-year rise of 11.7%.

In its domestic market of Central and Eastern Europe in particular, Skoda sales rose by 14% to 212,000 vehicles. There was also an increase in Western Europe, with vehicle deliveries rising 9.1% to 301,000 units.

The brand recorded its strongest growth in Germany, where deliveries to customers rose by 15.3% to 104,000 vehicles.

Last year, Seat delivered 430,000 vehicles to customers worldwide, with the 1.9% rise reversing the trend of 2005. The upswing was chiefly due to 2.8% growth on the West European market, where 375,000 units were sold.

Bentley deliveries to customers worldwide in 2006 rose by 7.1% to 9,200 vehicles - likewise a new record for the British super-premium brand.

For the Italian super sports car brand Lamborghini, 2006 also bought a new all-time best, with worldwide sales totalling 2,087 vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 30.4%.

The Bugatti brand delivered 47 vehicles to customers worldwide last year, its first deliveries as part of the VW Group.

Last year, the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand delivered 442,000 vehicles to customers, representing a further 10% increase, marking yet another all-time best.

Above all, growth on the West European market (271,000 vehicles, +8.4%) and in Germany (123,000 vehicles, +8.8%) contributed to this success.

There was also noticeable growth of 18.1% in South America/South Africa, where 85,000 vehicles were delivered.