Volkswagen Group has delivered 4.8 million vehicles worldwide from January to September 2008. The Volkswagen Group’s nine brands delivered 4.8 million vehicles worldwide during the first nine months of this year, a 3.9% increase compared with the same period in 2007. The Group’s share of the global passenger car market therefore rose by 0.5 percentage points to 10.1%. In September, a very difficult month for the automobile industry, the Group sold 550,000 vehicles (+0.7%) worldwide.

“We are concerned to see a further marked deterioration in the situation for our industry throughout the world in September. With its attractive model range and its broad-based international market presence, our Group is still delivering more vehicles than competitors. Our target of selling more vehicles in 2008 than in 2007 remains valid,” said Detlef Wittig, Executive Vice President Group Sales and Marketing.

In the first nine months of 2008, Volkswagen Middle East has achieved an increase of a staggering 35% compared to the same period last year. The sales for the Touareg represented 28% (+22%) of total sales, followed by the Passat which contributed to 23% and then the Jetta which accounted to 20% (+50%). The Eos showed the biggest growth increase of 53% compared to the same period of last year.

Looks like our region continues to buck world wide trends...for now anyway.