(November 14, 2012) WOLFSBURG, Germany — The Volkswagen passenger cars brand handed over 4.72 million vehicles to customers worldwide from January to October, an 11.2 percent increase over the same period in 2011. Volkswagen delivered 501,300 cars in October, a 16.3 percent increase over October 2011.

“We achieved growth, in some cases quite significant, above all outside Europe in October. The picture in Europe, on the other hand, remains difficult. The markets in Western Europe in particular demand our full attention. Here, the new Golf, Europe’s best-selling car, has got off to an excellent start with over 40,000 advance orders,” said Christian Klingler, board member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group.

On the overall European market Volkswagen maintained the high level of 1.44 million vehicles from January to October, an increase of one-half percent.

The brand generated growth in Central and Eastern Europe in particular, where deliveries rose by 28.8 percent to 223,100 (173,100) units. In Russia, the region’s largest single market, deliveries increased to 137,200 from 91,000 vehicles. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), deliveries fell by 6percent to 719,100 units as a result of the difficult situation on markets in general.

In Germany, Volkswagen handed over 501,300 vehicles to customers in the ten-month period, a six-tenths percent increase.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the brand grew deliveries by 17.4 percent from January to October and handed over 1.89 million vehicles to customers, of which 1.71 million units were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market.

Sales on the American continent also developed very well in the period to October, with Volkswagen Passenger Cars growing deliveries in the North America region by 25.6 percent to 508,500 vehicles. Growth was especially strong in the United States, where customers took possession of 357,400 vehicles, a 35.6 percent increase.