'The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand made a very good start to the second quarter. However, given the situation on West European markets we remain very vigilant,’ Christian Klingler (Inset), Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, commented.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars sold 589,800 (2011: 567,000) vehicles on the overall European market in the period to April, representing a 4.0% rise. Growth was particularly strong in Central and Eastern Europe, where deliveries increased by a substantial 55.7% to 84,000 (2011: 53,900) units. In Russia, the region’s largest single market, unit sales doubled to 50,500 (2011: 24,900/ +103.0%) vehicles. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), on the other hand, there was a 5.1% decline to 303,400 (2011: 319,800) vehicles due to the difficult situation on the overall market. In contrast, Volkswagen Passenger Cars grew deliveries by 4.7% in the home market of Germany, handing over 202,400 (2011: 193,300) vehicles to customers.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the brand reported a 13.4% increase in deliveries for the period to April, handing over 725,100 (2011: 639,200) vehicles to customers, of which 653,300 (2011: 578,200/ +13.0%) units were delivered in China (including Hong Kong), the region’s largest single market. Volkswagen Passenger Cars also developed very well on the American continent in the period January to April, delivering 187,900 (2011: 149,400) vehicles in the North America region, an increase of 25.7%. Growth was particularly strong in the United States where the brand handed over 131,900 (2011: 95,600/ +38.0%) vehicles to customers in the period to April. In South America, deliveries rose slightly by 0.6% to 246,300 (2011: 244,900) units.

Added by: Luke Durkin 
New Media Editor