Volkswagen vans claim top spot as commercial sales jump 4.7 per cent

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland has become the number one light commercial brand this year delivering 1,711 units in the first seven months.

Commenting on the result, Paul Burke, Brand Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “We have worked hard to become number one and our success is based on our fantastic product range combined with a robust and active dealer network plus excellent business partners like Volkswagen Bank and Lease Plan. 

"Together these elements combine to make us the preferred choice of the discerning commercial vehicle customer and our ambition is to continue to enhance our product offer competitively and innovatively. We are already working hard to make 2013 as successful for us as 2012.”

Up to the end of July, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles had delivered 317,300 delivery vans, transporters and pick-ups to customers worldwide. Compared to the corresponding period last year (January to July 2011: 303,200 vehicles), this represents an increase of 4.7 per cent.

Worldwide customer deliveries of the Amarok Pick-up went up by 22.5 per cent to 43,300 vehicles (January - July 2011: 35,400). Crafter deliveries rose by 39 per cent to 27,800 vehicles (January - July 2011: 20,000).

Deliveries of the T5 series increased by 3.4 per cent to 95,700 deliveries (January - July 2011: 92,500).

Worldwide deliveries of the Caddy were down by 1.1 per cent, to 91,300 vehicles (January - July 2011: 92,300).

In Western Europe, deliveries of the brand from January to July 2012 went up by 2.7 per cent to 169,400 vehicles (January - July 2011: 164,800). Deliveries in Eastern Europe to the end of June rose by 28 per cent   to 24,200 vehicles (January - July 2011: 18,900).

During the first seven months of 2012, Germany was the European market with the highest sales for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, showing an increase of 5.7 per cent to 74,700 customer deliveries (January - July 2011: 70,700).

In South America, the brand delivered 0.8 fewer vehicles to customers with 80,900 deliveries (January - July 2011: 81,600). Deliveries of the Saveiro were down by 8.6 per cent to 44,000 vehicles (January - July 2011: 48,200), while the T2 showed growth of 2.7 per cent to 15,300 units delivered (January - July 2011: 14,900).

In Africa, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles increased its deliveries by 25.6 per cent to 11,700 units (January - July 2011: 9,300), while in the Asia-Pacific Region; the Brand achieved a growth of 61.8 per cent with a delivery volume of 10,000 vehicles (January - July 2011: 6,200).