Volkswagen Sales Set Record in 2013

Sales of Volkswagen AG cars and commercial vehicles including estimates for its MAN and Scania heavy truck affiliates rose 5% to a record 9.7 million units in 2013.

Annual group sales excluding MAN and Scania advanced to 9.5 million units from 9.1 million in 2012. December volume rose 6% to 833,200 units.

VW reports sales grew in China (+16% to 3.3 million units) and the U.S. (+3% to 596,100).

But volume slipped half a percentage point to 3.65 million in Europe, mainly because of a 5% drop in demand in Russia. Sales also shrank 10% to 908,000 units in South America and fell 19% to 92,600 units in India.

Worldwide deliveries of VW brand cars in 2013 rose 3% to 5.9 million units, according to the company. Audi sales climbed 8% to nearly 1.6 million. Skoda's volume fell 2% to 920,800, but demand for SEAT cars surged 11% to 355,000 units.

Sales by VW's Commercial Vehicles unit rose 1,700 units to 551,900 trucks and vans. An 8% increase to 160,400 units in South America offset a 1% decline to 159,400 vehicles in western Europe.

The company, noting continuing uncertainty in Europe, predicts similar market-by-market results in 2014.