Wolfsburg, February 11, 2014 – The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand began this year with a rise in vehicle deliveries: The company handed over 515,700 (January 2013: 491,900) vehicles to customers worldwide in January, 4.8 percent up on the same period in 2013. “For the first time in its history Volkswagen Passenger Cars has started the year with deliveries in excess of half a million. That confirms the brand’s young and environmentally-friendly model range ticks the right boxes with customers worldwide”, Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, said in Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

The sales situation in Europe regained momentum in the first month of the year. While the overall market grew by some three percent, deliveries by Volkswagen in the first month of the year grew 7.9 percent to 126,200 (116,900) units. In Western Europe (excluding Germany) 66,100 (60,600) vehicles were handed over, an increase of 9.1 percent compared with the same month last year, while 41,400 (38,100) vehicles were delivered in Germany, a rise of 8.8 percent. In the Central and Eastern Europe region, 18,600 (18,200; +1.8 percent) customers took possession of a new Volkswagen, of which 8,600 (10,000; -13.7 percent) units were delivered in Russia.

The brand recorded a further 13.7 percent rise in deliveries in the Asia-Pacific region in January, handing over 285,300 (251,100) vehicles, of which 267,800 (235,000; +13.9 percent) were delivered in China (incl. Hong Kong). In India, Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 3,400 (4,600; -26.6 percent) units in January.

In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars handed over 39,200 (43,800; -10.6 percent) vehicles to customers, of which 23,500 (29,000; -19.0 percent) were delivered in the United States. In the South America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars handed over 49,600 (63,000; -21.3 percent) vehicles, of which 35,900 (46,100; -22.1 percent) units were delivered in Brazil.