Volkswagen increases worldwide sales for nine months to end of September.

Europe’s largest automaker delivered 4.36 (January-September 2012: 4.21; +3.6 per cent) million vehicles from January to September. The passenger cars brand handed over 526,300 (September 2012: 492,800; +6.8 per cent) vehicles to customers in the month of September. “Volkswagen Passenger Cars has held its own well on world markets despite the challenging situation and continued to grow in China in particular,” Christian Klingler, Board Member for Sales and Marketing for the Volkswagen Group and the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, commented.

The brand recorded a 16.5 per cent rise from January to September in the Asia-Pacific region, handing over 1.95 (1.68) million units there, of which 1.79 (1.51; +18.2 per cent) million vehicles were delivered in China (excluding Hong Kong), the region’s largest single market. In contrast, deliveries in India declined to 45,900 (51,000; -10.0 per cent) units.

In the North America region, Volkswagen Passenger Cars grew deliveries by 2.1 per cent to 466,000 (456,500) vehicles, of which 314,800 (323,100; -2.6 per cent) models were handed over to customers in the United States. In the South America region, deliveries from January to September declined by 13.4 per cent to 542,500 (626,500) units, of which 407,400 (486,800; -16.3 per cent) vehicles were handed over in Brazil.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered 1.23 (1.30; -5.7 per cent) million vehicles on the overall European market in the first three quarters, of which 616,400 (653,300; -5.6 per cent) units were handed over in Western Europe (excluding Germany). In the home market of Germany, delivery delays due to the bad weather in Wolfsburg which caused hailstorm damage to several thousand vehicles continued. As a result, deliveries to customers from January to September were down 8.2 per cent to 410,300 (447,000) units. Volkswagen Passenger Cars handed over 198,900 (199,800; -0.5 per cent) vehicles to customers in Central and Eastern Europe in the period to September, of which 117,200 (123,000; -4.7 per cent) units were delivered in Russia.

McLaren enters China to boost increasing sales further

• McLaren Automotive begins selling its range of innovative, high performance supercars – the 12C, 12C Spider and McLaren P1™, in China
• The company has appointed retailers in Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Guangzhou
• McLaren has held the first in a series of events celebrating the brand’s official entry into China
• McLaren Automotive has officially commenced trading in China from this week. 

The entry of McLaren Automotive into the major Chinese market has begun with the establishment of four new McLaren retailers in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, highlighting the continued progress of this exciting global car company.

China is the world’s number one automotive market and access to its growing base of consumers will provide a major opportunity for McLaren.  In time, it is anticipated that the Asia Pacific region will account for one third of global sales for McLaren, with China contributing a growing number of orders.

McLaren Automotive is a new and highly ambitious car company, and entry into China is the latest in a list of exciting and bold milestones it has reached.  In only its third year of trading, McLaren Automotive has already established a strong retail network in the majority of the world’s mature markets, with the four new retailers in China making 45 locations globally.

The company set itself an ambitious target from the outset, to launch a new model or derivative every year from launch and, despite challenging economic conditions, has kept this promise and is firmly on track with future plans for a full product range. Despite the global economic downturn, McLaren continues to meet its sales targets, selling over 1,400 cars in 2012; 80% of which were exported from the UK.

The groundbreaking 12C and 12C Spider models set new standards of innovation and capability in the high performance sportscar market, and the company recently celebrated the manufacture of the 3,000th 12C at the purpose-built McLaren Production Centre in Woking, England.

The McLaren P1™ is the latest model to be launched by the British brand, and sets new benchmarks for innovation and performance. Following an extensive development programme, it has now entered production, with the allocation for the Asia Pacific region already filled.

Ron Dennis, Chairman of McLaren Group and McLaren Automotive said: “Today, I am very proud to be able to represent McLaren as we mark the formation of McLaren China.  In recent decades, McLaren has grown to become a world class, highly innovative technology company that is never afraid to challenge convention. This approach has been applied to all our road cars, which utilise cutting edge technologies to deliver inspirational performance, coupled with high levels of efficiency. China is one of the most exciting and dynamic markets in the world where we will make every effort to be well received.  Our entry into China is an important day for McLaren and represents a significant milestone in the development of the company.”

Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive added: “Entering the Chinese market is both a huge honour and a major opportunity for McLaren Automotive, and it highlights the continued development of the company. When McLaren Automotive was established it was set some very challenging objectives. By bringing three groundbreaking cars to market, developing a truly world-class manufacturing facility, and establishing a global retailer network, we have more than met those challenges and laid solid foundations for what, I believe, will be a very bright future.”

McLaren hosted a high profile launch event, ‘McLaren Uncovered’ in Shanghai today, which was attended by the company’s senior global management. The four retail locations will now open across China throughout the next month – Shanghai (12 September), Beijing (20 September), Chengdu (24 September), and Guangzhou (27 September).