VW’s Group Sales Dropped 4% in July

Volkswagen Group reports its deliveries of new passenger vehicles in July fell to 792,100 units from 822,200 in the same month last year. Sales through the first seven months of 2015 slipped 1% to 5.83 million units.

Sales chief Christian Klingler says the company faces continuing "patchy" market development through the second half of the year.

January-July group totals rose in Europe (+4% to 2.45 million vehicles), as a 7% increase to 1.32 million in western Europe offset declines of 11% to 354,400 in eastern and central Europe and 40% to 97,600 in Russia.

Sales through July grew 6% to 533,000 units in North America. But deliveries declined in Asia Pacific (-4% to 2.22 million) and South America (-23% to 346,400).

By brand, group sales of Volkswagen passenger cars dropped 4% to 3.40 million units in the first seven months of 2015. Over the same period, Audi sales climbed 4% to 1.05 million, Skoda gained 4% to 627,100 and SEAT rose 7% to 251,300. Porsche sales soared 29% to 134,700 units.