The Volkswagen Group reported a further rise in global deliveries from January to May this year. For the first time, deliveries to customers during this period topped the three million mark, running at 3.37 (January – May 2010: 2.94; +14.6 per cent) million units.

“We are very pleased with developments during the first five months of this year. The Volkswagen Group with its very convincing model range is benefiting from brisk demand on global automobile markets,” group board member for sales Christian Klingler said in Wolfsburg on Friday.

Overall, the Group brands delivered 1.56 (1.42; +9.6 per cent) million vehicles throughout Europe in the first five months. In Western Europe (excluding Germany), 882,000 (829,800; +6.3 per cent) customers took delivery of a new vehicle. The Group brands reported continued high growth in Central and Eastern Europe, delivering 202,300 (156,100; +29.6 per cent) units. In Germany, its home market, the Volkswagen Group achieved 8.7 per cent growth, delivering 475,100 (437,000) vehicles.

Deliveries on the American continent also increased noticeably. The number of vehicles sold in the North America region grew 19.7 per cent in the period to May to 261,600 (218,500) units, of which 172,400 (145,500; +18.5 per cent) vehicles were delivered in the U.S. market. The Volkswagen Group handed over 376,800 (344,600; +9.3 per cent) vehicles to customers in the South America region during the same period.

The Group also reported a significant rise in deliveries in the Asia / Pacific region, with 1.04 (0.86; +21.6 per cent) million vehicles handed over to customers in the period from January to May, of which 921,100 (777,800; +18.4 per cent) units were delivered in China, the region’s largest single market. The company also recorded a further very robust increase in the fast growing India market, where 46,200 (13,500; +242.0 per cent) vehicles were delivered.

Audi delivered 535,400 (455,600; +17.5 per cent) vehicles worldwide during the first five months. The premium brand from Ingolstadt performed particularly well in the regions of North America (+17.0 per cent), South America (+26.8 per cent) and Asia / Pacific (+26.7 per cent).

The Škoda brand delivered 373,400 (307,400; +21.5 per cent) vehicles worldwide from January to May. The Czech automaker developed particularly well in Central and Eastern Europe (+22.9 per cent) and in the Asia / Pacific region (+37.5 per cent).

Seat delivered 152,500 (147,600) vehicles worldwide in the first five months, an increase of 3.3 per cent. The Spanish brand reported growth in particular in Germany (+28.2 per cent), Italy (+12.7 per cent) and France (+14.0 per cent).

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles delivered 213,000 (162,100; +31.4 per cent) vehicles to customers from January to May, reporting particularly strong growth in the regions of South America (+40.3 per cent), Asia / Pacific (+34.4 per cent) and Central and Eastern Europe (+58.3 per cent).