- Another record year: Deliveries to customers increased by 24.5 percent •
- Growth momentum shows the dynamic of multiple brands
- Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann: “Success in China is vital to Volkswagen’s 2018 strategy”
Volkswagen Group China today reported another record year. With its two Chinese joint ventures, Shanghai Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen, the Group announced a very strong performance in 2012 with 2.81 million (2011: 2.26 million, up 24.5 percent) vehicles delivered to customers in mainland China and Hong Kong. “I am very satisfied that we could again achieve a much stronger growth in deliveries than the general market. The outstanding growth momentum shows the dynamic of multiple brands, including Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles being transformed into a synergy of the best knowledge, innovation and practice,” said Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG as well as President and CEO Volkswagen Group China.
“Although we expect tougher conditions for the car industry to come, we want to maintain our leading market position in China and to enhance deliveries further. Success in China is vital to Volkswagen’s 2018 strategy to be the ecological and economic number one in the automotive industry”, Prof. Dr. Heizmann added. In mainland China and Hong Kong Volkswagen Group China and its two joint ventures clearly exceeded the prior-year deliveries, from January to December 2.81 million units were handed over to customers – including 189,200 imported vehicles.
With a total of 2.15 (2011: 1.72) million units delivered the Volkswagen brand reported a year-on-year increase of 24.8 percent. In December the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand reported an encouraging success. Deliveries doubled, with the Volkswagen brand handed over 230,000 (112.000; + 105 %) vehicles to customers.
The excellent result of 2012 was made possible by the good performance of locally produced models such as New Lavida, New Bora, Touran, Golf, Magotan and Passat.
Group brands showed excellent performance in China Audi set a new record in the Chinese market in 2012. Deliveries in China and Hong Kong exceeded the 400,000 mark for the first time. Deliveries climbed to 405,838 vehicles, an increase of 29.6 percent compared to the previous year. With this record Audi has increased its lead over the competition and has further strengthened the brand’s number one position in the premium segment in China. Deliveries of the A4 L, A6 L and Q5 model series built in Changchun increased by 28.1 percent year-on-year to 322,700 vehicles. All three locally made models lead their respective market segments. The deliveries of imported Audi vehicles rose by 36.2 percent to 83,138 units. Leading import models were the Audi Q7 and Audi A8. ŠKODA has been experiencing continued growth in China. The Czech automaker posted a rise in deliveries in 2012 with the number of vehicles increasing to 235,700 units (+ 7.1 percent). The Octavia remains on a high level with 142,800 (+ 15.8 percent) deliveries in 2012. ŠKODA is maintaining its speed bringing new models in China and ramping up capacity for further growth.
In its first year importing cars to China SEAT delivered 2,200 vehicles to customers. In the luxury segment Lamborghini handed over 320 cars, Bentley achieved a rise of 24 percent to 2,200 units. The sports car manufacturer Porsche, which became a Volkswagen Group brand on August 1, 2012, delivered a total of 13,000 vehicles from August to December. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles reported a very strong increase in 2012, handed over 2,300 units in mainland China and Hong Kong.
