Volkswagen Passenger Cars

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

At the beginning of 2013, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand unveiled the XL1, the most economical series automobile in the world, at the Geneva Motor Show. The two-seater, which features a plug-in hybrid system, is the Group’s technological spearhead and consumes just 0.9 l of diesel per 100 km. The brand also presented the Golf estate and the sporty Golf GTI and Golf GTD models. The e-up!, the Volkswagen Group’s first pure-play electric drive vehicle, made its debut at the IAA in Frankfurt am Main. The pure-play electric version of the Golf was presented at the same time; production is scheduled to start at the beginning 2014. In addition, the close-to-production Golf Sportsvan study also premiered; it will round off the Golf family from mid-2014. The world premiere of the new Golf R – the series’ flagship model – completed the showing at the IAA.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.9 million vehicles last year, recording growth of 3.4% compared with 2012 despite challenging market conditions. This was primarily due to the 16.6% increase in sales in China, the largest single market. Demand in Mexico also developed positively, growing by 16.2%.

Unit sales by the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand in the reporting period declined by 3.0% to 4.7 million vehicles. Demand for the new Golf, the up! and the new Beetle Cabrio was extremely encouraging. The difference between deliveries and unit sales is attributable to the fact that the vehicle-producing joint ventures in China are not counted as Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand companies.

At 5.9 million vehicles, the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand produced 2.6% more cars than in 2012. Alongside the locations in China, the plants in Wolfsburg, Pune (India) and Kaluga (Russia) recorded the highest growth rates. Production of the new Golf began in China; in Puebla, Mexico, this successful model has been rolling off the production line there since January 2014 for the North American market.

SALES REVENUE AND EARNINGS

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand generated sales revenue of €99.4 billion in 2013, falling 4.4% short of the prior-year figure as a result of exchange rate and volume-related factors. Operating profit, which declined by 20.6% to €2.9 billion, was impacted in particular by the lower unit sales and upfront investments in new technologies. The operating return on sales was 2.9% (3.5%).

DELIVERIES BY MARKET
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