Volkswagen Group delivers record 5.73 million vehicles in 2006 / All brands and major regions with higher sales

Wolfsburg (ots) - Wolfsburg/Detroit, January 7, 2007 - In 2006,
the Volkswagen Group delivered more vehicles to customers than ever
before. The Group sold 5.73 million vehicles worldwide, corresponding
to a rise of 9.3 percent compared with the previous year. "There was
a marked increase in Group deliveries in all major regions. All
brands contributed to this record", Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn,
Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, commented in
Detroit on Sunday. "I would like to thank everyone involved for this
outstanding achievement. Above all, my thanks go to our customers,
who once again showed great confidence in Volkswagen Group products
last year."

The Group's progress in expanding its leading position in Western
Europe was particularly impressive. 3.11 million vehicles (+ 5.8
percent) were delivered to customers in 2006. As in the previous
year, the Group again topped the one million mark for vehicle sales
in Germany. 1.11 million vehicles delivered to customers represents
an increase of 7.3 percent compared with the previous year.

The Group also defended its market leadership on the Chinese
passenger car market in 2006, delivering 711,000 vehicles, which
corresponds to significant growth of 24.3 percent. Developments in
the South America/South Africa region were equally positive, with
vehicle sales up 14.9 percent to 683,000 units. In Brazil in
particular, there was a strong rise of 15.1 percent to 441,000
vehicles. In the USA, the turnaround begun in 2005 continued as the
Group delivered 330,000 vehicles to customers, representing an
increase of 5.9 percent.

Volkswagen Passenger Cars, the core brand, reported a new record
with 3.39 million vehicles delivered worldwide in 2006, corresponding
to an increase of 10.0 percent. Market leadership in Western Europe
was extended further, with vehicle sales totaling 1.52 million (+ 5.6
percent). There was also an increase in Volkswagen Passenger Cars
sales in Germany, which rose by 7.4 percent to 571,000 units,
strengthening the leading position on the German market. In China
(including Hong Kong), sales of 625,000 units, corresponding to a
rise of 22.3 percent, strengthened the pole position on the Chinese
passenger car market. In South America/South Africa, deliveries to
customers in 2006 rose by 15.0 percent to 571,000 units. Volkswagen
Passenger Cars sold 235,000 vehicles on the US market - a rise of 4.9
percent compared with 2005.

Audi recorded its thirteenth successive delivery record in 2006.
905,000 vehicles (+ 9.2 percent) were delivered to customers
worldwide. A key success factor was a further 5.5 percent increase in
Western Europe, where 631,000 vehicles were delivered. In Germany,
Audi sales rose by 4.3 percent to 258,000 units. There was also a
strong increase in Central and Eastern Europe, where sales rose by
31.7 percent to 27,000 units. Audi growth was strongest in China,
where 82,000 vehicles were delivered to customers, representing an
increase of 38.8 percent. On the US market, Audi sales rose to 90,000
vehicles, up 8.5 percent compared with the previous year.

In 2006 the Skoda brand topped its record of the previous year,
with worldwide sales of 550,000 vehicles representing a year-on-year
rise of 11.7 percent. On its domestic market of Central and Eastern
Europe in particular, Skoda sales rose by 14.0 percent to 212,000
vehicles. There was also an increase in Western Europe, with vehicle
deliveries rising 9.1 percent to 301,000 units. The brand recorded
its strongest growth in Germany, where deliveries to customers rose
by 15.3 percent to 104,000 vehicles.

Last year, Seat delivered 430,000 vehicles to customers worldwide,
with the 1.9 percent rise reversing the trend of the previous year.
The upswing was chiefly due to 2.8 percent growth on the West
European market, where 375,000 units were sold.

Bentley deliveries to customers worldwide in 2006 rose by 7.1
percent to 9,200 vehicles - likewise a new record for the British
super-premium brand.

For the Italian super sports car brand Lamborghini, 2006 also
bought a new all-time best, with worldwide sales totaling 2,087
vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 30.4 percent.

The Bugatti brand delivered 47 vehicles to customers worldwide
last year, its first deliveries as part of the Volkswagen Group.

In 2006 the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand delivered 442,000
vehicles to customers, representing a further 10.0 percent increase
and marking yet another all-time best. Above all, growth on the West
European market (271,000 vehicles, + 8.4 percent) and in Germany
(123,000 vehicles, + 8.8 percent) contributed to this success. There
was also noticeable growth of 18.1 percent in South America/South
Africa, where 85,000 vehicles were delivered.

This press release and photos are available from our press
database at: www.volkswagen-media-services.com

Originaltext: VW Volkswagen AG
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Pressekontakt:
Volkswagen Group Communications
Jürgen Kornmann
Spokesperson Sales and Marketing
Phone: +49 (0) 53 61 / 94 17 26
Fax: +49 (0) 53 61 / 95 74 17 26
E-mail: juergen.kornmann@volkswagen.de


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