Volkswagen Group in June 2019 recorded 1.6 per cent increase in its global sales, amounting to 974,400 units.
The company explained that the number is mostly driven by 15 per cent growth in the Chinese market, where the Volkswagen Group delivered 354,800 units of vehicles in June 2019 compared to 308,400 units in June 2018.
This significant growth in China helped the group to post a total delivery number of 381,400 in the Asia-Pacific region. The growth in China, the most important market for Volkswagen AG is attributed to the new emission standard rolled out in the country that resulted in customers bringing their vehicle purchases forward.
In the first six months of 2019 (January-June), Volkswagen Group has delivered 53,65,300 vehicles globally, while the number was 55,19,400 during the same period last year. This marked a 2.8 per cent slowdown in delivery numbers.
In Europe, Volkswagen’s home market, the delivery number dipped by 4.8 per cent at 435,000 in June 2019 compared to 456,900 in the same month last year.
Among the passenger vehicle segment, Porsche and Seat were the only brands that registered double-digit growth in June 2019, 23.7 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively. The German sports car brand owned by Volkswagen delivered 26,300 units last month compared to 21,300 in June 2018. On the other hand, Seat delivered 57,300 units in June 2019 compared 51,400 units in the corresponding month last year.
Christian Dahlheim, Head of Volkswagen Group Sales, said “In June, the brands of the Volkswagen Group achieved good performance and boosted deliveries in overall markets that continued to shrink. In China, we benefited especially strongly from the positive impetus given by the changeover in emissions standards. It remains to be seen whether this will lead to a general turnaround there.”
He also said, “All in all, we can look back on a successful first half of the year: the Group has maintained its position in a challenging market environment and expanded its global market share.”
