(February 12, 2011) WOLFSBURG — The Volkswagen Group started 2011 with a strong increase in sales, handing over 644,200 vehicles to customers in January compared to 538,600 in January 2010.

This represents an increase of 19.6 per cent, and means the Volkswagen Group performed noticeably better than the overall market, which grew 12.8 per cent.

“We are very satisfied with the way the year has started. It shows the Volkswagen Group and its brands are in an excellent position to meet the complex demands of the global market,” Group Board member for Sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday. “Despite the good figures, we continue to monitor developments on world markets closely.”

The dynamic sales situation on Asian markets continued in January. Volkswagen brands delivered 239,500 vehicles, a 32.5 percent increase from 2010 when 180,800 cars were delivered to customers in the Asia / Pacific region, of which 217,900 units were handed over in China, the region’s largest single market. That represents a 30.6 percent increase over 2010.

Volkswagen also reported strong growth in India, where deliveries ran at 7,400  vehicles, nearly triple the number for the comparable period last year.

The group also grew deliveries in the South America region. In January, the company handed over 21.6 per cent (74,700 compared to 61,400) more vehicles to customers. The situation in the North American region was also positive, with 41,900 vehicles delivered, compared to 38,300 in 2010.

In the US market, Volkswagen sold 26,300 models, a 6.8 percent increase from the 24,600 in January 2010.

The Volkswagen Group also reported growth in Europe. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), 156,800 new vehicles were delivered to customers, a 6.5 percent increase.