VW Group delivers record 1.47 million vehicles in first quarter

The Volkswagen Group delivered more vehicles to customers during the first three months of 2007 than in any previous quarter. The group sold 1.47 million vehicles worldwide, corresponding to a 7.9 per cent rise compared with the same period in the previous year.

"We were more than able to compensate for the expected drop in sales in Germany as a result of increased VAT by rises, some of them quite considerable, in other key world markets," Professor Martin Winterkorn, chairman of the Volkswagen AG management board, said.

"An important success factor is the very pleasing growth on the Chinese market. All brands contributed to these excellent results, confirming that the group is in a good position to master forthcoming challenges and that we will meet our sales targets for this year in spite of difficult market conditions."

Despite the VAT 'dent' on the German domestic market, deliveries to customers in Western Europe rose by 1.9 per cent to 777,000 vehicles. The effect of advance purchases at the end of 2006 gave rise to a 4.9 per cent decline in deliveries in Germany during the first three months of 2007 to 235,000 vehicles. The group registered the strongest increase in central and eastern Europe, where sales rose by 25.9 per cent to 109,000 units.

The group's most important growth market was China, where market leadership in the passenger car segment was impressively confirmed by 203,000 vehicles delivered and vigorous 23 per cent growth.

Developments in the South America/ South Africa region were equally positive: 188,000 vehicles delivered represents an increase of 21.5 per cent. This strong rise was chiefly accounted for by the Brazilian market with 120,000 vehicles (plus 21.4 per cent). In the United States, the group sold 73,000 units, representing slight growth of 0.7 per cent compared with the previous year.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars, the core brand, delivered 850,000 vehicles worldwide in the first quarter of 2007 (+6.8 per cent). Here, too, the main growth market was China with 177,000 vehicles sold, representing a rise of 22.3 per cent.

In South America/South Africa, deliveries to customers rose by 21.8 per cent to 157,000 units. Most of this increase was attributable to Brazil, where sales of 101,000 vehicles represented a rise of 21.4 per cent.

In Western Europe, VW brand sales fell by 3.3 per cent in the first quarter to 354,000 units. In contrast, there was strong growth in central and eastern Europe, where sales increased by 28 per cent to 31,000 vehicles. In the US, sales of 50,000 units represented a 5.6 per cent decline in the number of VW models delivered to customers compared with the same period in 2006.

Audi again reported a strong increase in worldwide sales during the first quarter of 2007, delivering 248,000 vehicles, an increase of 9.4 per cent. Key growth markets were China (+27 per cent to 24,000 vehicles), central and eastern Europe (+39.7 per cent to 10,000 vehicles) and the US (+17.6 per cent to 21,000 vehicles). In Germany, the 6.9 per cent decline to 56,000 vehicles was compensated by overall growth in Western Europe, where deliveries increased to 172,000 vehicles (+5.3 per cent).

The Skoda brand also continued its success story during the first quarter of 2007, increasing deliveries by 15.5 per cent to 150,000 units. Contrary to the market trend, sales in Germany increased by 20.6 per cent (28,000 deliveries). The figure in western Europe was 86,000 (+14.7 per cent). On its domestic market of central and eastern Europe, Skoda sales rose by 20.5 per cent to 53,000 units.

During the first three months of 2007, Seat delivered 108,000 vehicles worldwide (+1 per cent). The main impetus came from strong growth of 24.5 per cent (6,000 deliveries) on the central and east European market and a 1.6 per cent rise (96,000 vehicles) in western Europe.

There was a further increase in worldwide deliveries to customers by the British superpremium brand Bentley. First-quarter growth totalled 20.4 per cent, with 2,800 vehicles delivered. The Italian super sports car brand Lamborghini sold 527 vehicles in the first quarter of 2007. This represents a rise of 54.1 per cent compared with the same period in 2006.

Bugatti delivered 18 vehicles worldwide, an increase of 260 per cent compared with the same quarter in 2006.

The VW commercial vehicles brand reported record figures for the quarter, delivering 110,000 vehicles to customers (+10.6 per cent). Growth was chiefly due to a 20.6 per cent rise in South America/South Africa to 23,000 vehicles. Central and eastern Europe also reported vigorous growth, with sales rising 41.5 per cent to 9,000 units. There was also strong growth of 8.4 per cent to 68,000 vehicles on the west European market, with Germany accounting for 27,000 units - a 1.6 per cent rise.