Despite the challenging environment in Europe, the Volkswagen Group was able to increase its worldwide sales by 12.4 percent to 4.6 million vehicles in the first six months of the year. In doing so, the Group’s share of the global passenger car market rose 0.1 percent to 12.4 percent. The German automaker's operating profit rose 3.4 percent to €3.28 billion (US$4 billion) in the second quarter of the year showing signs of slower growth as the company had reported a first-quarter increase of 10 percent. Overall, the VW Group's operating profit was up 6.7 percent to €6.5 billion (US$7.96 billion) in the first six months of 2012.
"Against a background of economic uncertainty, our performance so far, our improving cost structures, our flexible production and our technology leadership in many areas mean that we are well equipped to meet the challenges facing us," said CFO Hans Dieter Pötsch. "More than ever before, our sound financial position is paying off."
The VW passenger car brand sold 2.4 million vehicles in H1/2012, an increase of 9.5 percent over the prior year period, with the Fox, Tiguan, Touareg and Sharan models recording the highest growth rates.
The group's Audi brand delivered 678,000 vehicles from January to June 2012, and the Chinese joint venture FAW-Volkswagen sold a further 166,000 Audi vehicles.
As previously reported, Skoda sold 493,000 units in the first six months of the year, up 8.4 percent over the same period in 2011.
Seat posted a 16.0 percent year-on-year increase in sales to 218,000 vehicles worldwide, despite a continuing decline in demand in its home market of Spain.
Luxury carmaker Bentley delivered around 5,000 vehicles in the first half, which corresponds to an increase of 47.8 percent compared with last year.
The VW Commercial Vehicles brand sold 228,000 vehicles in the same period, up 4.8 percent on the previous year.
VW Group CEO Martin Winterkorn said that the company expects to at least match last year's record operating profit of €11.3 billion (US$13.9 billion).
