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