The group saw a 6.5% rise in global sales in January to 798,100 units from 749,500 in January 2013.

‘The Volkswagen Group has made a good start to the new year. Even though last January’s delivery figures reflected the special effect brought about by the Chinese New Year, we still grew deliveries further in the first month of this year. And we are seeing the first increases in Europe, above all in Western Europe, where the downturn appears to have bottomed out,’ said Mr Klingler, adding: ‘This is a good start to what will be a challenging year.’

The increase in Europe was 8.5% to 273,700 (252,200) vehicles, of which 146,700 (138,100; +6.3%) units were handed over in Western Europe, excluding Germany where sales were up 11.6% to 82,400 (73,900) customers chose a new vehicle from the Group. In Central & Eastern Europe, sales were up 10.7% to 44,500 (40,200) units, of which 16,100 (17,400; -7.2%) were handed over in Russia.

Sales were down 7.7% in North America to 57,800 (62,600) vehicles, of which 36,900 (42,700; -13.4%) were handed over in the United States. In the South America region, January sales were down 19.5% to 62,200 (77,300) vehicles, of which 43,600 (55,400; -21.4%) were handed over to customers in Brazil.

However, the Asia-Pacific region showed strong growth of 14.8% to 374,400 (326,200) vehicles, of which 344,400 (298,300; +15.5%) were handed over to customers in China (incl. Hong Kong), the group’s largest single market – marking the first time that January sales on this market have exceeded the 300,000 mark. In contrast, deliveries in India declined to 5,700 (7,800; -27.4%) vehicles.

Within the brands, Volkswagen Passenger Cars saw sales up 4.8% to 515,700 (491,900) vehicles, with strong results in the Asia-Pacific region, where 285,300 (251,100; +13.7%) vehicles were delivered and a 7.9% increase in Europe to 126,200 (116,900) vehicles.

Audi was up 11.7% to 124,900 (111,800) vehicle sales worldwide and benefited from growth in China (incl. Hong Kong), where 44,500 (37,700; +18.2%) vehicles were delivered, and in the home market of Germany, where 17,400 (14,600; +19.3%) vehicles were sold.

Porsche sales totalled 12,200 (12,100; +1.4%) vehicles in January, with demand particularly high in China (incl. Hong Kong), where 4,000 (3,100) units were delivered, an increase of 29.2%.

Skoda saw sales of 80,900 (69,500) units in January, up 16.5%. The company handed over 20,600 (17,600; +16.8%) vehicles to customers in Western Europe (excluding Germany) and 18,100 (15,100; +19.8%) units in the Central and Eastern Europe region.

SEAT continued its stable development in January and saw sales of 26,000 (25,900; +0.5%) vehicles worldwide. The brand recorded further growth in Germany, where 5,300 (4,600; +14.2%) vehicles were delivered, and in the UK, where 3,400 (2,900; +15.7%) units were handed over.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 37,500 (37,500; +0.1%) light commercial vehicles in January. The brand grew deliveries in the Central and Eastern Europe region, where 2,700 (2,400; +14.0%) vehicles were handed over to customers. Deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region totalled 1,700 (1,400; +21.6%) units.