– Volkswagen Group reports successful fiscal year 2012 in a challenging environment
– Operating profit exceeds record prior-year level at EUR 11.5 billion (EUR 11.3 billion)
– Profit before tax increases to EUR 25.5 billion; clearly positive effects from the final measurement of the put/call rights relating to Porsche as of July 31, 2012 and from remeasurement at the contribution date of the shares already held (total: EUR 12.3 billion; previous year: EUR 6.6 billion)
– Board of Management and Supervisory Board propose an increase in the dividend for Volkswagen shareholders to EUR 3.50 per ordinary share and EUR 3.56 per preferred share
– Deliveries top the 9 million mark for the first time at 9.3 million vehicles (+ 12.2 percent); further increase in market share
– Strategic growth trajectory continues with contribution in full of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG to the Volkswagen Group, increased stake in MAN SE and acquisition of Ducati
– Net liquidity of EUR 10.6 billion (EUR 17.0 billion) in the Automotive Division provides financial stability and flexibility
Prospects for 2013:
In 2013, the Volkswagen Group’s brands will launch a large number of fascinating new models and so help further expand our strong position in the global markets. We expect that the Volkswagen Group will outperform the market as a whole in a challenging environment and that deliveries to customers will increase year-on-year. However, we are not completely immune to the intense competition and the impact this has on business. The modular toolkit system, which is being continuously expanded, will have an increasingly positive effect on the Group’s cost structure. We expect the Volkswagen Group’s 2013 sales revenue to exceed the prior-year figure. Given the ongoing uncertainty in the economic environment, the Group’s goal for operating profit is to match the prior-year level in 2013. This applies equally to the Passenger Cars Business Area, the Commercial Vehicles, Power Engineering Business Area – which remains affected by high write-downs relating to purchase price allocation, among other things – and the Financial Services Division. While we shall see positive effects from our attractive model range and strong market position, there will also be increasingly stiff competition in a challenging market environment. Disciplined cost and investment management and the continuous optimization of our processes remain an integral part of our Strategy 2018.
The Annual Media Conference and Investor Conference will take place on March 14, 2013 in Wolfsburg.
