The Volkswagen Group has increased its global market share in the first quarter of 2009 to 11 per cent, as compared to 9.7 per cent in the same period of 2008.

The Volkswagen passenger cars brand also grew its world market share to 7.4 (6.3) per cent.

“Our young and efficient model range with some 180 different vehicles is paying off,” said Detlef Wittig, executive vice president, group sales and marketing.

“Our portfolio contains exactly the cars which are in demand by customers,” he added.

In an overall market which has shrunk by more than 20 per cent, the Group delivered 1.39 million vehicles (1st quarter 2008: 1.57 million; -11.4 percent) to customers all over the world. During this period, the Volkswagen passenger cars brand sold 876,000 units (920,200; -4.8 percent).

In the Middle East, Kuwait saw a 56 per cent increase over the same period last year. Recently, the majority of countries in the Middle East have seen the launch of the Passat CC, Scirocco and the Golf VI, due to be launched in the remaining countries in the next quarter.

Furthermore the Golf GTI, one of the most important models for the region, will be launched in the beginning of the second half of the year. With these products Volkswagen will sustain its position as a global player with innovative and unique products expecting another push for the sales figures in Middle East for 2009.

“Due to the economical barriers and otherwise a strong product portfolio we are looking very confident into the future and a positive trend for the market. With a modicum of 10 per cent in the first quarter of the year we are reporting decreasing sales, but we are nevertheless optimistic at all,” mentioned Joerg Andrischock, acting managing director at Volkswagen Middle East.

Europe’s largest automaker outperformed competitors in the key sales regions. In Western Europe, the Group grew market share from 18.6 to 20.6 per cent. There were increases in almost all individual markets. The share in Central and Eastern Europe grew to 12.9 (10.4) percent.

Developments in Russia were particularly gratifying; in a market that is down 39 percent, the Group grew deliveries significantly to some 25,800 units (22,600; +14.1 percent) and now ranks fourth on the Russian market.

The Volkswagen brand increased deliveries, sometimes quite substantially, in almost all model ranges.

In South America, market share rose to 21.5 (18.9) percent. In Brazil, the region’s largest market, 6.4 per cent growth in deliveries to 157,300 (147,800) units was higher than the overall market growth of 3.3 per cent. Here, good developments in the sale of the new “Gol”, the bestselling vehicle in Brazil, were a positive factor.

In North America, too, the Group expanded its market share to 3.7 (2.7) percent. In the USA, the Group delivered 58,300 vehicles (2008: 72.200; -19.3 percent), a significantly better performance than the competition (overall market: -38.4 percent).

While there was a noticeable 8.7 per cent drop in the market in the Asia/Pacific Region, the Volkswagen Group reported a rise in deliveries to 318,200 vehicles (309,200; +2.9 per cent). In China, deliveries rose to 284,200 units (268,200; +6.0 per cent).
In Germany, Group brands delivered 251,500 vehicles (2008: 240,700; +4.5 per cent) during the first quarter, the core brand Volkswagen sold 131,000 cars (2008: 121,300; +8.0 per cent) on its home market.

There was high demand for the VW Fox, Polo and Tiguan from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The scrapping premium is currently boosting business, with more than 160,000 vehicles ordered under the program by the end of March.

“This demonstrates that the government’s measures are having an effect. At the moment, this is the best program for safeguarding jobs, protecting the environment and for customers,” Wittig said.

Following on from the sharp downturn in macroecon