Car sales are on the rise as manufacturers around the world are reporting positive sales numbers. The latest of positive sales numbers came from the Volkswagen Group which reported growth in deliveries during the first half of 2014, handing over almost five million vehicles during this period.
In total, 4.97* million vehicles were delivered to customers worldwide from January to June this year which is a rise of 5.9 per cent over same period last year. Developments during the month of June were also positive, with the company handing over 859,400* vehicles compared to 827,500 in June 2013 marking a rise of 3.9 per cent units.
*excluding MAN and Scania
Expressing his views on the positive sales of the company, Group Board Member for Sales Christian Klingler said, “The Volkswagen Group showed satisfactory development in the first half year even though market conditions were at times difficult. However, the economic environment on some world markets remains tense,” He added, “Despite these challenges, the Volkswagen Group is entering the second half of the year with confidence. But we are also well aware of the tasks that lie ahead.”
Group brands delivered a total of 1.99 million vehicles versus 1.87 million vehicles same period last year on the overall European market in the first half year. Nearly 1.05 million customers took possession of a new vehicle in Western Europe (excluding Germany). A total of 613,200 units were delivered in the home market of Germany. The Group handed over 331,300 vehicles to customers in Central and Eastern Europe, of which 137,200 units were delivered in Russia.
The Group witnessed a slowdown in the North American market where it delivered 424,900 vehicles versus 437,900 from January to June, of which 288,000 units were handed over to customers in the United States. In the South American region, the Volkswagen Group delivered 350,800 vehicles to customers versus 450,500 vehicles during the same period witnessing a 22.1 per cent downfall, of which 271,700 units were handed over to customers in Brazil.
The Group continued to record very encouraging figures in the Asia-Pacific region, where 2.00 million versus 1.73 million vehicles were delivered to customers, of which 1.81 million units were handed over in China, the Group’s largest single market.
Car makers are utilising the upsurge in global demand to increase their sales. But can they keep up with good numbers in the second half of the year? Stay tuned into Motoroids for all the updates from the automobile industry.