‘The Volkswagen Group is in robust shape despite the economic uncertainty, and our development in the period to August remained satisfactory. For the first time, we delivered over six million vehicles to customers in the first eight months of a year,’ said Christian Klinger, group board member for sales, adding: ‘Notwithstanding the difficult conditions, we still expect deliveries for the full year to exceed the prior-year level.’

Deliveries in Europe reflected the continued tough conditions, with the figure down 3.3% for the January to August period to a total of 2.39 million vehicles. Western European deliveries were down 2.7% to 1.22 million with an identical percentage drop in the Central and Eastern Europe region, reaching a total of 415,000 vehicles.

The Americas showed mixed results. Deliveries in the North America region grew by 10.9% to 593,700, with deliveries up 9.2% in the US at 414,800 units. South America was down 10.8% to 605,600 units, of which 447,600 units were handed over to customers in Brazil; down 13.7%.

However, group delivery figures were up 16.2% for the Asia-Pacific region, standing at 2.30 million vehicles. In China (excluding Hong Kong), deliveries topped the two-million mark for the first time in an eight-month period, with 2.05 million customers taking possession of a new vehicle; up 17.9%. In India however, deliveries were down 17.9% to 63,600 units.

Looking at the individual group brands for the year to date, Volkswagen Passenger Cars’ deliveries rose 3.1% to 3.84 million vehicles worldwide from January to August, with a strong performance in China, where deliveries rose 18.4% to 1.56 million vehicles, and Mexico, up 18.3% to 92,100 units.

Audi deliveries were up 7.2% to 1.03 vehicles worldwide, setting a new record. Again, growth was strong in China, where 310,300 vehicles were handed over to customers; up 19.5%. The brand also grew deliveries in the United States by 14.7% compared with the same prior-year period, handing over 101,300 cars.

New Volkswagen Group brand Porsche was also included in the results, with a total of 106,800 vehicles in the first eight months. At 32,500 units, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for the largest share, with a further 31,400 units handed over to customers in the North America region.

Skoda delivered 598,400 vehicles worldwide from January to August; down 5.5%. Sales were down both 5.2% in Europe, to 393,200 units, and 1.9% in China to 156,300 units.

SEAT was up 11.4% to 234,200 units, with a particularly strong performance in Europe; up 8.5% to 91,700 units.

Meanwhile Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles dipped slightly with deliveries down 1.1% to 358,400 vehicles. Western European deliveries were down 1.8% to 104,200 units. In contrast, deliveries in the South America region developed well, with customers taking delivery of 104,100 units, up 8.2%.