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Volkswagen posts Record Sales, Boosted by India & China

Beijing, 220708. Volkswagen AG, posted record global sales in the first half owing to a surging demand in developing nations like India and China. Sales gained 2.4 percent last month, said the largest automaker of Europe.

Volkswagen AG, posted record global sales in the first half owing to a surging demand in developing nations like India and China. Sales gained 2.4 percent last month, said the largest automaker of Europe.

The automakers also announced decent business in Russia and Brazil leading to an increase of 5.8 percent in Global deliveries to 3.27 million vehicles.

In the first six-months of the year, Germany-based Volkswagen recorded a 69 percent increase in India, 63 percent in Russia, 50 percent in Ukraine, 23 percent in China and 22 percent in Brazil.

For the first time, Chinese sales crossed the 500,000 mark in over six months.

"With our customer-oriented model diversity, and a consequent growth strategy, we were able to grow our global deliveries despite negative influences," said Volkswagen's production chief, Detlef Wittig.

He added that things were not very smooth in the worldwide auto market, “Nonetheless, with the strength of the brand and the model selection, we clearly developed better than the overall market."

Sales in Europe increase 1.3 percent to 1.84 million while in its home ground Germany, Volkswagen delivered 534,000 vehicles, up 4 percent.

Sales at the Volkswagen’s best-selling VW brand rose 5.8 percent to 1.9 million in the six months and Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic -based Skoda delivered 367,000 vehicles an 18 percent increase. Deliveries at the luxury Audi unit rose 1.4 percent to 516,000.

The company said it delivered 264,000 commercial vehicles and trucks, recording a 13 percent increase from January to June. Meanwhile, the company's luxury brands also posted decent sales. According to the company, Bentley delivered 4,700 cars; Lamborghini 1,300; and Bugatti 35.

The automaker sold a record 6.19 million vehicles last year. It plans to outdo its own figures in 2008, by boosting sales with the help of new models like the compact sport- utility vehicle Tiguan and the next generation of its best- selling Golf.

Source: Chinadaily.com.cn.