(January 13, 2013) WOLFSBURG, Germany — The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand closed 2012 with a new record, delivering 5.74 million vehicles to customers for the first time in a 12-month period. That represented a12.7 per cent increase over 2011.

The brand recorded a 30.6 per cent rise in December, delivering 517,900 units.

"There has been another strong increase for the Volkswagen passenger cars brand even though market conditions were at times difficult. Our new Golf has got off to an excellent start and significantly strengthened Volkswagen’s competitive position," Christian Klingler, board member for Sales and Marketing said. "2013 will be a very demanding year, and we will be facing new and difficult challenges. But we are well prepared."

The brand performed particularly well in the United States, where 438,100 vehicles were handed over to customers, a 35.1 percent increase over 2011.

Volkswagen delivered 1.70 million vehicles in the struggling European market, a 1.2 percent decline from 2011. The brand generated significant growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where there was a 22.4 per cent increase in deliveries to 267,100 vehicles, but in Western Europe (excluding Germany), deliveries fell by 6.9 per cent to 844,500 units due to the difficult situation on overall markets.