VW '08 China sales grow fastest globally

Shanghai, February 1 (Gasgoo.com) Volkswagen has recently said its sales in the Chinese market, including Hong Kong and Macao, grew 12.5% in 2008 to 1.024 million vehicles. The figure exceeded the target of 1 million and the growth rate was the fastest of all Volkswagen markets in the world, xinhuanet.com reported.

Volkswagen's global new vehicle sales totaled 6.23 million in 2008, up 0.6% year on year (y/y). In its home market Germany, VW sold 1.06 million vehicles last year, up 0.4% from 2007. In its third single market Brazil, Volkswagen sold 633,300 new vehicles in 2008, up 8.9% y/y. In central and eastern Europe, VW's new vehicle sales reached 556,600 units last year, up 12% y/y.

In China's mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, Volkswagen China, with the two Chinese ventures FAW VW and Shanghai VW, sold 1,024,008 vehicles together in 2008, increasing 12.5% over 2007 and topping the 2008 car sales rankings in China. FAW VW sold 512,973 vehicles and Shanghai VW sold 501,018 units last year.

In 2008, China sales of the Volkswagen brand increased 8.2% to 844,491 units while the Audi brand grew 17% to 101,996 units, and the Skoda brand sales more than doubled to 59,284 units. Sales of VW's premier luxury Bently sedans and Lamborghini super sport cars were 518 and 117 units respectively.

The year 2008 is seen as a landmark year for Volkswagen's development in China as in the year VW car sales in the Chinese market broke the 1 million-unit target and grew fastest in VW's global markets.

The total sales for passenger vehicles in China rose 7.4% to 6.43 million units in 2008, according to statistics released by China Passenger Car Association.