- Volkswagen Group delivers 8.26 million vehicles to customers worldwide in first 10 months
- VWSA dominates local passenger car market
- Polo and Polo Vivo best-selling passenger models
From January to October, the Volkswagen Group handed over 8.26 million vehicles to customers. Worldwide deliveries did not present a uniform picture. Deliveries by the Volkswagen brand in certain markets reflected especially the current diesel issue as a result of sales stoppages for the vehicles affected. Deliveries therefore fell in October (-5.3 percent). At the same time, the Audi premium brand grew deliveries (+2.0 percent), and there was a significant increase at sports car manufacturer Porsche (+18.2 percent). As regards the various markets, there was a slight downward trend in Europe (-1.5 percent) at the same time as growth in North America (+6.8 percent). While the market situation in South America remains challenging, the Group deliveries in China rose again slightly in October (+1.6 percent).
In the entire Asia-Pacific sales region, the Group delivered 3.21 million vehicles in the first 10 months of the year, with China, the largest single market, accounting for 2.89 million units.
The Group also recorded growth in North America, with 773,600 units delivered from January to October. Most of these vehicles, 505,900 units, were handed over in the United States, representing growth of 3.4 percent. In South America, where the situation remained challenging, deliveries by the Group fell markedly (-26.4 percent). Deliveries in Brazil, at 337,300 units, were the key factor in this development.
In the region of Western Europe, 2.90 million customers received a new vehicle in the year to October, representing growth of 5.4 percent. The situation in Germany remained positive, with deliveries up by 4.1 percent. The Volkswagen Group also recorded growth in other Western European markets. There were significant rises in Spain (+16.3 percent) and Italy (+8.6 percent). As a result of the tense situation in Russia (-37.0 percent), a further downturn in deliveries was recorded in Central and Eastern Europe. In the period to October, the Group handed over 506,700 vehicles in this region.
In South Africa, Volkswagen passenger brand continues to dominate the passenger car market for the sixth year in a row with a market share of 18.3% with Polo Vivo and Polo as the top two best-selling passenger models respectively.
To date, Volkswagen Group South Africa has sold 76,209 passenger cars in South Africa. Both September and October proved to be good months for VWSA with the sales through the dealer channel being particularly encouraging whilst the slowdown in the rental market impacted the overall number of cars sold.
In the first ten months of 2015, VWSA has a passenger car market share of 22% meaning that nearly one in five customers choose to buy a Volkswagen or Audi in South Africa.
