Volkswagen Reports Strong January

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Volkswagen raced into the new year, and any silent hopes by the competition that the Wolfsburg juggernaut would finally be slowed down by the drag called Europe were dashed. Europe’s largest carmakers began the year with a 14.9 percent increase, delivering nearly 100,000 units more worldwide than in January 2012.

Volkswagen global group deliveries January 20131M’131M’12YoYJan’13Jan’12YoYTotal749,900652,40014.9%749,900652,40014.9%Europe252,200259,900-3.0%252,200259,900-3.0%Ger73,90074,100-0.2%73,90074,100-0.2%WEur ex D138,100144,400-4.4%138,100144,400-4.4%EEur40,20041,400-2.9%40,20041,400-2.9%China298,300208,20043.3%298,300208,20043.3%USA42,70036,70016.2%42,70036,70016.2%South Am77,30078,100-0.9%77,30078,100-0.9%Black: VW data. Blue: TTAC calculatedIncluding Porsche from August 1, 2012. Excluding MAN and Scania

In January, Volkswagen sold 7,700 fewer units in Europe, a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to the 90,100 units it sold more in China and the U.S.

In its communique, the company went to great pains to explain that “the sizable increase in China” was “due to the later date set for the Chinese New Year.” The company warned that “for February, we expect a decline in deliveries in China as a result of this special effect.” In China, Volkswagen sold 298,300 units in January, missing GM’s 310,765 by a hair.

Volkswagen continues to receive TTAC’s kudos for spin-free reporting of numbers. If there is a minus in front of a percent, Volkswagen does not hide the number, as another large automaker still does.

Volkswagen January deliveries, by brand1M’131M’12YoYJan’13Jan’12YoYVolkswagen Passenger Cars491,900419,10017.4%491,900419,10017.4%Audi111,80096,10016.3%111,80096,10016.3%Porsche12,10012,100ŠKODA69,50075,400-7.8%69,50075,400-7.8%SEAT25,90021,70019.1%25,90021,70019.1%Volkswagen Commercial37,90039,500-4.0%37,90039,500-4.0%

Among Volkswagen’s brands, Seat surprises with a 19.1% plus. Volkswagen explains the sudden drop at Skoda with “the market launch of the new Octavia.” Audi’s strong sales go mostly on account of China (37,700 units, +38.5 percent) and the U.S. (10,100 units, +7.5 percent)

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
 4 comments
  • ZekeToronto ZekeToronto on Feb 15, 2013

    Interesting that weak sister Seat was able to pick up up much of Skoda's January deficit in Europe.

    • Hreardon Hreardon on Feb 15, 2013

      Zeke, Part of that may be due to market availability of the new Leon, whereas Skoda has announced, but not yet delivered the new Octavia. My understanding from talking with friends overseas is that there is a big backlog of orders for new MQB product: Golf, A3, Leon. Part of that is due to demand and part of it is due to parts shortages. In the A3, in particular, it seems that if customers spec the S-Line or sport suspensions their orders are being delayed upwards of 3 months. Likely there are some kinks in the supply chain as things ramp. The MQB product rollout has been pretty aggressive: March 2012 - A3 3-door September 2012 - A3 Sportback, Golf 7, Seat Leon, S3 3-door December 2012 - Octavia March 2013 - S3 Sportback, potential A3 Sportback alt-drivetrain, potential A3 Sedan, GTI Reading the cards, just about all of VW's product line should be MQB by the end of 2014. Gotta make back that $70 billion investment somehow, kids!

  • Athos Nobile Athos Nobile on Feb 15, 2013

    Great picture. Is it me or the tailgate is made of a composite material? Then you can spot 2 opportunities to simplify the assembly, reduce cost and weight at the same time around that area. And kudos for having a walk in chassis.

    • Th009 Th009 on Feb 15, 2013

      I don't believe it's a composite tailgate. That said, I wouldn't be able to spot the two opportunities if it were!

  • AZFelix Hilux technical, preferably with a swivel mount.
  • ToolGuy This is the kind of thing you get when you give people faster internet.
  • ToolGuy North America is already the greatest country on the planet, and I have learned to be careful about what I wish for in terms of making changes. I mean, if Greenland wants to buy JDM vehicles, isn't that for the Danes to decide?
  • ToolGuy Once again my home did not catch on fire and my fire extinguisher(s) stayed in the closet, unused. I guess I threw my money away on fire extinguishers.(And by fire extinguishers I mean nuclear missiles.)
  • Carson D The UAW has succeeded in organizing a US VW plant before. There's a reason they don't teach history in the schools any longer. People wouldn't make the same mistakes.
Next