VW weathering the “Dieselgate” storm

Despite the Volkswagen diesel emissions testing debacle having surfaced in September, the company has reported the delivery of 430 800 light commercial vehicles during the 2015 financial year. This is down 3,5 percent from 2014’s 446 600 units.

Certain models, including the T5 Transporter, were affected by the scandal. Nonetheless, the Transporter range (with the T6 introduced around mid-year) recorded a growth rate of 1,4 percent – to 171 100 from 168 700.

The Crafter model range also recorded an increase, with 50 400 deliveries (up 2,5 percent from 49 200 units).

Caddy and Amarok sales were down, however. The total number of deliveries of Caddy vehicles were down by 10,8 percent to 132 900 (2014: 148 900) and Amarok deliveries were down 2,1 percent to 76 500 units (2014: 78 100).

Geographically, deliveries in Western Europe fell by 2,5 percent to 284 600 vehicles (2014: 292 000). In Eastern Europe, the brand suffered a 17,3 percent fall in deliveries with 31 200 vehicles sold (2014: 37 700).

In South America, the number of vehicles delivered fell by 7,5 percent to 34 100 (2014: 36 900). In contrast, deliveries in the Middle East rose by 26,7 percent to 34 700 units (2014: 27 400).