The Volkswagen Group moved into the second quarter of 2008 with yet another record in global vehicle deliveries. In an increasingly difficult market environment Europe’s largest automaker delivered 568,000 vehicles in April. This represents an increase of 10.5 percent compared with the same month in 2007, and is the first time that the Group has topped the two million mark after only the first four months of a year. From January to April, the Group’s eight brands delivered 2.14 million vehicles to customers all over the world, an increase of 7.9 percent compared with the previous year.

Thanks to its sustained multi-brand strategy and ever broader model diversity, growth in deliveries by the Volkswagen Group was therefore stronger than the world market, where the increase in passenger car deliveries currently runs at approximately 3 percent.

In Europe, Group deliveries from January to April rose by 3.0 percent to 1.22 million vehicles, of which 1.04 million were delivered in Western Europe (plus 0.7 percent). In Germany alone, deliveries rose by 5.9 percent to 339,000 vehicles. In Central and Eastern Europe, customers took delivery of 178,000 vehicles from the Volkswagen Group (plus 18.7 percent).

In Asia-Pacific, the Volkswagen Group delivered 420,000 vehicles, a rise of 26.5 percent compared with the same period in 2007. 368,000 vehicles were delivered to customers in China, an increase of 28.9 percent over the previous year.

In South America, deliveries rose by 19.5 percent to 260,000 vehicles, of which 203,000 were delivered to customers in Brazil (plus 24.3 percent). In North America, deliveries totaled 159,000 vehicles (minus 4.9 percent), of which 100,000 were delivered to customers in the USA (minus 0.7 percent).

Volkswagen, the Group’s highest-volume brand, delivered 1.25 million vehicles to customers worldwide during the first four months of 2008, a rise of 8.8 percent compared with the previous year. Audi grew deliveries to 338,000 vehicles, an increase of 1.7 percent. Škoda reported a 17.7 percent rise to 237,000 vehicles delivered. Seat delivered 135,000 vehicles (minus 5.9 percent). Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles grew deliveries by 14.7 percent to 171,000 units. Bentley delivered 3,200 vehicles to customers (minus 15.6 percent), Lamborghini 850 vehicles (plus 15.4 percent) and Bugatti 20 models (January to April 2007: 25). 

Sourced From: 20 : 20 Media Pvt Ltd