Automotive company Volkswagen Group announced, on January 14, that it delivered 9.7-million vehicles worldwide for the full year of 2013, exceeding the record of 9.2-millon, set in 2012.

“The 9.7-million vehicles delivered to customers last year ranged from small city cars to heavy trucks,” says Volkswagen Group sales board member Christian Klingler, noting that the overall delivery figures also include estimates for the German truck makers MAN and Scania.

Excluding the latter, the Volkswagen Group delivered 9.5-million vehicles in one year, compared with 9.1-million delivered in 2012, which is a 4.8% increase.

“Across the board, all brands contributed to these positive results, which is a good achievement in light of the difficult conditions on markets all over the world. As far as the current year is concerned, we expect market developments on a level similar to 2013. Even though the situation in Europe would appear to be stabilising, economic uncertainty will continue and the challenges we will be facing on markets will remain virtually unchanged,” notes Klingler.

Volkswagen Group South Africa (VWSA) ended 2013 as the market leader of the local passenger car segment for the fifth consecutive year, with the total sales of 102 962 units, compared with 99 106 in 2012, which is an increase of 3.9%.

This achievement gave VWSA an overall market share of 22.9%. Volkswagen’s passenger car sales growth of 3.9% was more than double the total passenger car market growth of 1.8% in 2013.

In the total vehicle market, VWSA delivered 111 722 vehicles, compared with 108 386 vehicles in 2012, an increase of 3.1% and gained market share of 17.2%.

The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand delivered 5.93-million vehicles to customers worldwide during the full year, compared with 5.74-million vehicles in 2012, an increase of 3.4%.

In South Africa, the Volkswagen Passenger Car brand sold 83 627 units, compared with 82 3631 in 2012, an increase of 5%. Polo Vivo (35 041) and Polo (27 953) – both locally produced – were the top selling models in the local passenger car market in 2013.

Audi, which is owned by the Volkswagen Group, delivered 1.58-million vehicles worldwide in 2013, compared with 1.46-million in 2012, which is an increase of 8.3%. Audi South Africa grew its market share in the local premium market to 22.7% in 2013, compared with 21% in 2012, with the total sales of 19 335 units, compared with 16 743 in 2012, an increase of 15.5%. The sales achievement was an all-time record for the Audi brand in South Africa, as it achieved 15.5 % year-on-year growth, above the premium market growth of 6%. The top selling models were the A4 (6 591) and A3 (3 380) models.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles global delivered 551 900 vehicles to customers last year, compared with 550 200, an increase of 0.3%. In South Africa, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles sold 8 760 light and medium commercial vehicles in 2013, compared with 9 280 in 2012, an increase of 8.1%. The best sellers were the Amarok (4 767) and Crafter (945) models.

“VWSA’s sales performance in 2013 was encouraging, despite the increasingly challenging market conditions and labour unrest that we experienced in the second half of the year. Our performance was buoyed by our locally produced models, Polo and Polo Vivo which accounted for nearly 14% of the passenger car sales in South Africa as well as Audi’s record sales in the premium segment,” says VWSA sales and marketing director Petra Hoffmann.

“This year will be even more challenging, given the current trends of key economic indicators such as deteriorating exchange rate, pressure on household income, economic growth restraints and subdued consumer confidence. These will put pressure on the trading conditions and challenge all market players,” he adds.