BERLIN — Germany's Volkswagen AG said vehicle deliveries dropped in August versus the same month last year, but noted its performance was significantly better than the industry as a whole.
The Volkswagen Group, Europe's largest auto maker, delivered 448,000 vehicles worldwide in August, a 3 per cent drop from a year ago. But, the company said, the overall market was down 9.1 per cent.
“The increasingly difficult economic conditions are also presenting our group with a challenge,” said Detlef Wittig, VW's executive vice president for sales and marketing. “We are, however, very well placed to continue our success.”
Over the first eight months of the year, Volkswagen delivered 4.24 million vehicles, up 4.1 per cent compared to the first eight months of 2007, the company said.
Deliveries in China were up 15.6 per cent to 686,000 vehicles. In Brazil, they were up 21 per cent at 438,000; in central and eastern Europe, up 19.2 per cent at 377,400 vehicles; and in Russia, up 67.2 per cent at 83,300.
Still, Western Europe accounted for more than half the vehicles delivered — 2.4 million, up only 0.2 per cent over the first eight months of 2007.
Volkswagen passenger cars were the group's highest-volume brand, with 2.49 million vehicles delivered worldwide over the first eight months, up 3.6 per cent.
The group includes other brands such as Audi, Lamborghini, Skoda and Seat.
Volkswagen shares were down 1.3 per cent at €264.45 in afternoon Frankfurt trading.
