(May 14, 2015) WOLFSBURG — The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 1.98 million vehicles worldwide in the first four months of the year, down 2.2 percent from 2014. Sales in April totaled 496,100, a 4.8 percent decrease from 2014.

“So far this year, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand achieved its strongest growth in Europe,” said Christian Klingler, board member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.

“However, developments in the global market situation remain mixed. Russia and the South America region in particular continue to require our full attention,” Klingler noted.

Volkswagen delivered 582,000 vehicles overall European market in the first four months for a 2.5 percent gain, of which 318,100 units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany) representing a 6.6 percent increase.

Deliveries on the home market of Germany grew by 7.6 percent to 198,100 vehicles. Deliveries in Central and Eastern Europe in the period to April declined 22.8 percent to 65,900 units. In Russia, the company delivered 24,300 vehicles during the same period, a 47 percent decline for last year.

Volkswagen sold 185,100 vehicles in the North America region in the period to April, a slight half percent gain, of which 109,200 models were delivered to their owners in the United States representing 7.5 percent fewer than 2014.