Volkswagen sets record sales of 5.74 mn vars in 2012

Volkswagen yesterday said that it closed 2012 with a new record, delivering 5.74 million vehicles undewr the Volkswagen brand, a 12.7 per cent, rise from  5.09 million in 2011 for the first time in a 12-month period.

It said the the brand recorded a 30.6 per cent rise in December, delivering 517,900 vehicles, up from 396,600 in December 2011.

''There has been another strong increase for the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand even though market conditions were at times difficult. Our new Golf has got off to an excellent start and significantly strengthened Volkswagen's competitive position'', Christian Klingler, board member for sales and marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, said.

Commenting on the projections for 2013, Klingler said, ''2013 will be a very demanding year, and we will be facing new and difficult challenges. But we are well prepared.''

Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.70 million vehicles, a 1.2-per cent decline from the 1.72 million in the previous year in the overall European market in the period to December.

"The brand generated significant growth in Central and Eastern Europe, where there was a 22.4-per cent increase in deliveries to 267,100, up from 218,100 vehicles in 2011. In Russia, the region's largest single market, 164,700 vehicles were handed over to customers, registering a rise of 39.6 per cent from the 118,000 in 2011.