(August 24, 2012) WOLFSBURG — The Volkswagen Group has reported a 9.1 per cent rise in sales for the period through July, taking the number of vehicles handed over to customers worldwide in the first seven months of 2012 to 5.19 million, surpassing the five million mark for this period for the first time ever. Group brands delivered 734,600 vehicles in July. 

“Overall, we made a good start to the second half of the year and continued on our growth trajectory in almost all regions, particularly Asia, North America and Russia. However, the situation in Western Europe remains noticeably tense, although our brands outperformed the overall market there despite the difficult conditions,” sales head Christian Klingler said today.

There was a further increase in deliveries on the American continent in the first seven months of 2012.  In the North America region, the company handed over 457,900 vehicles in the first seven months, a 21.9 percent increase over 2011, of which 324,200 units were delivered in the United States, representing a 30 percent increase.

In Europe, the Volkswagen Group delivered 2.23 million vehicles during the first seven months, up slightly over last year.  Deliveries in Western Europe (excluding Germany) fell slightly to 1.15 million units as a result of the continued difficult market situation. 

In its home market of Germany, Europe’s largest automaker recorded a 4.4 per cent increase to 708,100 units. The Central and Eastern Europe region continued to develop well, with customers taking delivery of 376,300 vehicles, up 25.6 percent.