'Thanks to a broad-based, international positioning and a convincing product range we were able to respond well to the continuing uncertainty in the Eurozone and the challenging overall market situation and have thus been able to win many customers for our attractive models,' said group board member for sales Christian Klingler.

However, the group reported a mixed performance in the global markets. Deliveries in Europe fell 2.4% to 2.73 million vehicles in the first three quarters and were down 1.6% in Western Europe (excluding Germany) to 1.40 million units. Deliveries were also down 3.9% to 855,600 units in the home market of Germany and down 2.0% to 470,200 units in the Central and Eastern Europe region.

On the American continent, deliveries from January to September in the North America region grew by 9.2% to 664,500 vehicles, of which 463,200 were handed over to customers in the USA, up 7.3%. Deliveries in South America for the same period were down 9.4% to 681,200 units, of which 503,100 were handed over in Brazil, down 12.3%.

However, performance was strong for the Asia-Pacific region, with YtD deliveries up 16.0% to 2.63 million vehicles, of which 2.35 million units were delivered in China (excluding Hong Kong), up 17.7%. In India, deliveries were down 17.4% to 70,700 units.

Looking at the individual brands, Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 4.36 million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to September, up 3.6% and performed particularly well in China and Mexico, which were up 18.2% and 16.8% respectively.

Audi delivered 1.18 million vehicles worldwide in the first three quarters, an increase of 7.6%, and saw significant growth in China, handing over 355,500 vehicles to customers there, up 20.5%. The brand grew deliveries in the USA by 13.6% compared with the same prior-year period.

Porsche, part of the Volkswagen Group since 1st August 2012, delivered a total of 119,700 vehicles in the period to September.

Skoda delivered 684,900 vehicles worldwide from January to September, down 4.5%, with deliveries down 6.4% in the Central and Eastern Europe region and 2.3% in China.

SEAT delivered 266,100 vehicles worldwide in the period to September, up 11.7%. European deliveries were up 9.6%, with those in Germany increasing by 26.3% to 57,300 units.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles continued to record stable development in the first three quarters, handing over 406,600 vehicles, down 0.7%. A 12% downturn in deliveries in Western Europe (excluding Germany) was contrasted with a 9.9% rise in South America.