24.6 percent growth in first-quarter sales for Volkswagen Group

The sales of the Volkswagen Group have risen by 24.6 percent in the first quarter of the year in comparison with the same period of 2009. The largest European automaker sold 1.73 million units worldwide and registered a growth in its deliveries above the average trend on global automotive markets of +19.4 percent.

According to Christian Klingler, Group Board Member for Sales, "There are clear signs of a revival on the overall passenger car market in many parts of the world. Thanks to our innovative, young and environmentally-friendly models we are benefiting quite significantly from this trend."

"Nevertheless, we still expect this to be a tough year. We believe that differentiated growth in the various regions of the world is likely to continue over the coming months. However, the positive trend so far strengthens our optimism about developing better than the market," he said.

In China the Volkswagen Group achieved a new record for first-quarter sales with 457,300 units sold, which represents a growth of 60.9 percent. The rising sales in China also determine an increasing volume of deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region of 58.9 percent. The South American market also saw its sales raise by 13.4 percent. For example, in the first-quarter in Brazil there were more 8.1 percent of units sold than 2009.

In the United States of America the popularity of the Jetta model range and the Audi Q5 also raised the deliveries of the Group by 37.2 percent.

In Western Europe the first-quarter saw an increase of sales of 16.8 percent with 753.600 units being delivered.

In terms of brands, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand saw its sales grow by 27 percent up to 1.11 million units in the first three months of the year. The Golf was the most popular model followed by the Polo.

Audi registered selling growth in all of its markets, increasing its deliveries by 25.9 percent to 264.100 units. With a growth of 77.3 percent, China was the market where the four rings brand saw the most improvement.

Skoda followed the same trail of the Group brands registering a growth of worldwide sales of 25 percent to 178.900 units, with the biggest rises coming from the Chinese and the Western Europe markets.

Finally, the deliveries at Seat also grew by 15.1 percent in the first three months of 2010. The Spanish brand delivered 88.300 units with the company being particularly successful in the Western Europe markets. In its home market Seat delivered more 47.5 percent units than in 2009, 26.500 units compared to the 18.000 in the previous year.