Volkswagen sales increase to 6.24m cars despite economic uncertainty and new emissions tests

Car maker Volkswagen (VW) sold 6.24m passenger cars in 2018, in what was a record-breaking year for the brand, despite slow growth caused by uncertainty in China and a clampdown on emissions standards.

Sales were up 0.2 per cent on last year, but down 9 per cent overall.

VW said it saw an uptake of 13.1 per cent in South America, 4.2 per cent in the US and 3.6 per cent in Europe but that such gains were offset by "considerable economic uncertainty in China, Argentina and Mexico", as well as "severe repercussions as a result of the changeover to WLTP [worldwide harmonised light-duty vehicles test procedure] in western Europe".

The WLTP is a new test that was implemented in 2017 to measure the fuel consumption and carbon emissions of passenger vehicles in the fallout out from the diesel emissions scandal, in which VW was found to have fit defeat devices in its cars that were designed to circumvent emissions tests.  

Volkswagen board member for sales Jürgen Stackmann said: “2018 was characterised by considerable uncertainty in some regions, especially in the second half of the year. Overall, though, we were able to combat this with a strong offensive of attractive new products and to offset the adverse effects. Our strategy has paid off. The new delivery record is the result of much hard work.”

Volkswagen chief operating officer Ralf Brandstätter added: “2019 will be another year  of enormous challenges for the brand, above all in light of growing geopolitical risks. We must do our homework. Apart from volume growth, we will in future be focusing more closely on earnings performance than we have done in the past. This is about ensuring the long-term profitability of the Volkswagen brand.”