Volkswagen Group sold a record 10.3 million cars in 2016, shrugging off the impact of Dieselgate

Volkswagen Group sold a record 10.3 million cars in 2016, shrugging off the impact of Dieselgate

What scandal? Volkswagen has sold a record 10.3 million vehicles in 2016, shrugging off the impact of the Dieselgate emissions cheating scandal that surfaced in 2015. VW Group sales – which include Audi, Porsche, Seat and Skoda brands among others – rose 3.8% last year to pass the 10 million mark, from 9.93 million in 2015.

The German giant’s record haul could mean that it ended 2016 as the world’s top carmaker by volume. Main rival Toyota, which ended 2015 above VW, is expected to announce 2016 sales figures next month. At the end of last year, the Japanese carmaker said that it expected to sell 10.09 million vehicles. We’ll see.

VW’s US sales fell just 2.6% in 2016, but the big numbers were from China, where sales increased by 12.2%. As European car sales rose to its highest point since 2007, VW dominated its home continent. The group had a strong end to 2016 – when December global sales were up 11.8% year-on-year.

Click to enlarge

“2016 was a very challenging year for us. We made strides in resolving and overcoming the diesel crisis and at the same time initiated a fundamental change process with ‘Together – Strategy 2025’ to get Volkswagen ready for the future of mobility. Nonetheless, we managed to stabilise operating business in difficult conditions: the fact that we handed over more than 10 million vehicles to customers last year bolsters the Group and its brands as we head for the future,” said VW CEO Matthias Müller.

“In 2017 we will be intensifying our efforts in the major technological fields of the future, in e-mobility, autonomous vehicles, the digitalisation of our products and our company. At the same time, though, we will not be neglecting today’s core business. Our Group brands will be putting almost 60 new vehicles on the road for their customers during the coming year,” Müller added.

This will be a big year for the VW Group, as it welcomes core models such as the new Volkswagen Polo and Touareg, Skoda Yeti, Seat Ibiza, Porsche Cayenne, Audi A8 and Bentley Continental GT (click on the links for spyshots of the upcoming models).

“We are also systematically continuing with our e-mobility offensive and will be launching more than 10 new models with electric drives in 2017/18,” Müller revealed. Cue Starship with Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Kunta kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    this sure not true one, how come VW after all the diesel gate scandal can still sold a whooping number of unit.
    no resale value car – for sure no one buy, rakyat already know this, must be they cheat on the sale figure, for sure lah!
    it is different with toyota, it is a tru wolrd class leader with futuristic design and safety feature, high safety spec summore – all the vios are with VSC in case you guys dont have the automative knowldge like me, high resale value summore, choose value, that why we in Pakatan choose toyota!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 84
    • Kunta Kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 1:53 pm

      pretty sad when a bored VW salesman tries to impersonate me.

      Hello abang, instead of coming online and trying to impersonate me, why don’t you work harder and ask your boss not to sell faulty DSG cars in Malaysia and instead give normal autobox?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 27
      • Kunta bin Kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 4:56 pm

        I’m the original Kunta, don’t impersonate me. Everyone knows VW is a world class car manufacturer and has the latest technology. Toyota used outdated 4 speed super ECT gearbox (wow!) for years recycling into all their cars and even into their Camry. Don’t get me started with their NA engines which are underpowered and miserable suspensions when VW is using one with the best which is multilink. Even Japanese rival Honda has a turbocharged Civic. Just visit any used car dealers and ask them today, they will tell you there are so many unsold Altis and Camry with them. Heck, even new Altis and Camry not selling well in Malaysia. Just do yourself a favour and visit the dealers and get first hand information and you will know the truth. Only the vios and commercial vehicles are selling well. The top contenders for C segment is no doubt the Jetta, Civic and Mazda 3 and D segment it’s the Passat. Sorry Toyota, just RIP. VW cars just technologically superior than Toyota and offers more value for money and a much better solid car feeling.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 4
        • Faiz Roslan on Jan 11, 2017 at 7:06 pm

          With the help of the gov, Proton is free from scandals because it is run by passionate professionals. That’s why Proton doesn’t have to try hard like VW to regain consumer trust. Proton auto windows for example is guaranteed for life, testament to the commitment to make high quality cars for the rakyat and beyond. – Faiz Roslan CEng

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 11
    • Why bother is it true or not? In South Korea they found out more car manufacturers are giving false info for their diesel emissions, even for Japanese one. Please read carefully that the article here said China sales skyrocketed.
      If you really want to buy a car why bother with resale value now? 5 years back vios has good resale value, true. However now look at it. Is it still the same by looking at the ratios? I’m not saying Japanese cars are rubbish but it is what the buyers need for themselves. Give yourself a chance to test drive all sorts of choices available then decide. Although I can tell you conti cars are different in terms of engineering, how it feels when driving one in comparison with Asian made cars.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 15 Thumb down 1
    • I alwiz knew u were a toyota junk salesman.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
      • Kunta Kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 3:30 pm

        u keep on saying that in all my post. Are you dumb or what? If I was a Toyota salesman, why do I bash Toyota maximum? Only a real idiot will bash his own brand.

        This alone shows how intelligent you are.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 5
        • Not true. U bash UMW as Gov korni, but u din bash toyota THE BRAND. We seen what u did there….

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
      • john kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 5:06 pm

        steady bro :))

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Prabanathan Muthusamy on Jan 11, 2017 at 4:50 pm

      VW even cheated in sales figures! Why must adding up many brands together,call it’s VW and self claiming world no 1? Pathetic tactics by hitler! Porche is porche,skoda is skoda,Audi is Audi lah! If that so Toyota should totalling together it sales with Lexus,Daihatsu and perodua! 20 million easily!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 34
      • Rodeomaster on Jan 12, 2017 at 8:47 am

        Hello brother. All car companies add the figures of all their subsidaries. Even Toyota, Ford and GM. Also stop using the word Hitler, that only shows you dont understand that Nazism was actually a political party and not a race or people. The people were following because if they did not, they would be killed. It was rule with fear. So please la, understand history before you put unnecessary comments.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 1
  • Biggest sales come from Asia Pacific. Compelling proof that we couldn’t care less about environmental cheating scandal…. as long as it doesn’t affect us directly.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 11
    • Kunta Kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 1:58 pm

      Mat Salleh don’t care about dieselgate. It is just figures being cheated.

      But Malaysians are more worried about DSG Gate. Cause DSG gate involves your car breaking down non stop and you waiting for the tow truck driver every other month.

      this is why in overseas, VW is still selling well. But in hot countries like Malaysia, where DSG cannot handle, sales are collapsing to ZERO figures.

      Potential VW buyers, pls don’t be misled by global figures. Like I said Dieselgate is just cheating on numbers on paper.

      In Malaysia, VW owners always marry off their daughter to the tow truck driver’s son.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 27
      • Kunta bin Kinte on Jan 11, 2017 at 5:01 pm

        Get your facts right before spreading rumours. DSG was the past . Fast forward and now the latest CKD batch in Malaysia, the cars are reliable and no issues at all. Why not speak to real owners, not made up fictitious characters who do not exist and get real feedback from real owners rather than being a keyboard warrior feeding on old stale news.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 4
    • Gumdrop on Jan 11, 2017 at 2:17 pm

      China contribute a lot.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • kimi's fan on Jan 11, 2017 at 2:19 pm

      and other reasons could be..
      muka and status pasal..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 7
    • Madani on Jan 11, 2017 at 6:28 pm

      VW tolong takeover Proton^^

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Walak2050 on Jan 11, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    TESLA lagi bijak & jimat kos.

    Wang bajet bolih biaya Projek Landasan Kereta Api ke Pantai Timur & Singapura

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 11
    • Electric vehicles might look like they’re cheaper to run; but given the limited range and the need to charge perhaps every single day to make sure it doesn’t run out of juice, it might hurt the wallet too when we pay for the electricity.

      BTW, electricity isn’t really that cheap in Malaysia; and it’ll definitely soar when electric vehicles become the norm (typical TNB style).

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Cheap sale = more volume on Jan 11, 2017 at 1:32 pm

    I naik my bos punya 2 years old VW passat.
    He said already got side door glass kenot turun n creaking sound. VW just put some lubricants

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 18
  • exVGM on Jan 11, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    why the sales figure so perfect… ALL ended with 00.. ;)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 11
    • Mana bouleh persoal foreign overlord!

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
    • Rustycharm on Jan 11, 2017 at 3:33 pm

      Kunta Kinte, John, ex-VGM, cheap sale, etc… you are all products of the failed education system in Msia. Basically, poop brainers.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 0
    • 12yrsold on Jan 12, 2017 at 9:30 am

      Bro exVGM, you have sharp eyes man. I also wondering why they all end up exactly “00” at the end figure. Looks more like the figures are printed out by some 12 years old kid trying to con you.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
  • They sold that much because of giving away huge discounts. We have to see the revenue figure which could be lesser than 2015 although higher numbers sold in 2016.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 7
  • With their experience on “cheating” (diesel gate), I wonder will the cheating continues on these figures

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 6
  • Mikey on Jan 11, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    I think the moral of the story is – Whatever we say/bash here in M’sia doesn’t bother VW group as a whole.

    There must be something VW group doing is Right that despite the Diesel-gate & DSG problem, they still comes out TOP.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
  • 12yrsold on Jan 11, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    The report also say :-
    Audi sold 1,871 units for 2016
    Porsche sold 237,800 units for 2016

    Despite 2016 was a very challenging year, VW group still managed to sell so well. I think P1 should reconsider VW if they truly want to make it. Take a look at SEAT & SKODA under VW & U will know what i mean.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
  • Retro School on Jan 11, 2017 at 5:23 pm

    Vw rocks!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
  • Low2215 on Jan 11, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    Looking at the detailed breakdown , we can conclude that VW is popular only in China and Europe , the rest , not so much ..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 8
  • Bernard on Jan 12, 2017 at 7:11 am

    Only in Msia , vw customers complain but the rest of the world everything seems ok. Why is that ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
    • rastaman on Jan 12, 2017 at 4:14 pm

      Because most Malaysians wear nice clothes, act rich but comment without using brains. Thats why Japan, Korea and Singapore all developed in 20 years, while Malaysia is going backwards after more than 50 years. Soon even Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar also will overtake Malaysia. Take a trip to these countries and you will see how much they have changed in the last 5 years alone.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  • I owned a jetta. i didnt complaint. who said vw car not reliable? did u own 1? my dsg and tsi work handsomely.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Perhaps the difference in treatment? Giving us outdated and junky parts and sell at high price?

    Just speculating anyway. I don’t drive a VW.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • alex chan on Jan 12, 2017 at 3:26 pm

    me too drive jetta, no issue , the DSG and TSi engine work beautifully, almost 90k km now, spare parts are plenty from outside shop, even in mudah.my, the VW parts are cheap and plenty.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
 

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